Avoid storing cooked food in refrigerator for more than 3days, NAFDAC warns

Nigerians have been adviced to avoid storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days to prevent foodborne illnesses.

This was a warning from Prof. Moji Adeyeye, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The warning was issued in a statement on Tuesday 18th of June, in commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day, tagged: “Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected.”

Prof. Adeyeye explained that cooked food stored for extended periods can become contaminated with harmful pathogens, leading to potentially fatal foodborne diseases.

She emphasized the importance of promptly refrigerating cooked food and consuming it within a safe timeframe to mitigate the risk of contamination and illness.

In her statement, Adeyeye appealed to all stakeholders in the food supply chain to adopt a food safety culture in their operations to minimize food hazards and risks.

She stressed that food safety is a collective responsibility involving producers, processors, distributors, and consumers.

The campaign for food safety aims to raise global awareness and promote preparedness for food safety incidents, with the focus that “food safety is everyone’s business.”

Additionally, the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs. Eva Edwards, highlighted the significant impact of foodborne diseases, which are costly yet preventable.

“According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 600 million people worldwide fall ill from contaminated food annually, with 420,000 deaths.

“Unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries results in $110 billion in productivity and medical expenses each year,” the statement read.

Edwards went on to encourage the public to practice good hygiene and collaborate to ensure a safer and healthier food supply for everyone.