Segun Atanda/
As the world marks World Food Safety Day 2025, Nigeria’s leading food safety advocacy group, the Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative (CAFSANI), is calling for urgent science-driven actions to protect public health and transform Nigeria’s vulnerable food systems.
This year’s global theme, “Food Safety: Science in Action,” highlights the essential role of science, innovation, and evidence-based strategies in ensuring that what ends up on our plates is safe—from farm to fork.
CAFSANI Founder and President, Prof. Olugbenga Ogunmoyela, warned in a press statement that unsafe food continues to plague millions of Nigerians, contributing to widespread illness, malnutrition, and economic losses.
“Food safety is not just a technical issue—it is a public health priority, a development imperative, and a fundamental consumer right,” Prof. Ogunmoyela stated.
Unsafe food remains a silent crisis in Nigeria, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like children under five, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised. The ripple effects are devastating: overburdened healthcare systems, diminished productivity, eroded consumer trust, and billions of naira lost annually.
From microbial risk assessments to digital traceability tools, CAFSANI emphasized the urgent need to embrace modern food safety technologies such as Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The group also stressed the importance of food fortification standards, biotechnology, and surveillance systems in reducing foodborne risks.
To commemorate the day, CAFSANI is launching a slate of nationwide activities in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other partners, including:
A National Webinar featuring experts on food safety and public health innovations;
Training for food handlers—targeting market vendors, street food operators, and SMEs;
Community outreach campaigns across selected markets and schools;
Social media awareness using the hashtag #FoodSafetyScienceInAction.
CAFSANI is also rallying stakeholders—regulatory agencies (NAFDAC, SON, FCCPC), private sector players, development partners, and civil society—to scale up enforcement, investments, and education efforts around food safety.
0“The time for action is now,” Ogunmoyela said. “With climate change, urbanization, and global trade increasing food-related risks, we must use science and innovation to protect lives and secure our food systems.”
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