Food safety remains a major public health concern, with potential risks occurring at different stages of the food chain, from production on the farm to processing, storage and eventual consumption.
Stakeholders in Ondo State have called for stronger regulation, improved food handling practices and greater public awareness to protect consumers from unsafe and adulterated food products.
Speaking on the issue, the President of the Ondo State Farmers Congress and Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Ondo State Chapter, Monilari Abayomi, warned that improper use of chemicals by farmers, alongside poor processing and storage practices, could compromise food safety.
Abayomi stressed that ensuring safe food requires the involvement of everyone across the food chain, including farmers, food handlers, market women and regulatory agencies.
The Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, Pharm. Solomon Adetunji, also cautioned against the use of chemicals to artificially ripen fruits.
He advised consumers to choose fruits that have matured naturally to reduce potential health risks.
Beyond production and handling, stakeholders identified the circulation of fake and adulterated products as another challenge to consumer safety.
The Chairman of the Ondo State Consumer Protection Agency, Oluyemi Fasipe, said the agency was taking steps to curb the circulation of substandard products through public education and enforcement.
Fasipe noted that consumers may not always be able to distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products, making effective regulatory intervention critical to protecting the public.
The stakeholders stressed that food safety requires collective responsibility, urging stronger regulation, proper handling and storage practices, sustained public education and greater vigilance to ensure that food reaching consumers is safe
