World Food Safety Day: Minister Warns of Growing Health Crisis, Calls for Collective Action
By Staff Reporter
ABUJA, June 8, 2026 — The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over the alarming burden of foodborne diseases in Nigeria, revealing that nearly 50 million Nigerians suffer food-related illnesses annually while more than 53,000 deaths are linked to unsafe food consumption each year.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Monday during the commemoration of the 2026 World Food Safety Day, held virtually and physically in Abuja under the theme, “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
Delivering a press statement at the event, the minister described food safety as a critical national development issue that directly affects public health, economic productivity, and the future of Nigeria's children.
According to him, recent global estimates released by the World Health Organization (WHO) paint a troubling picture of the worldwide impact of unsafe food. The report estimates that foodborne diseases cause approximately 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually across the globe, with Africa bearing the highest per-capita burden.
For Nigeria, the figures are particularly concerning.
“Our national data show that Nigeria records nearly 50 million foodborne illnesses every year, and unsafe food causes more than 53,000 deaths annually,” Salako stated.
He noted that these illnesses and deaths translate into approximately 4.26 million years of healthy life lost due to disease, disability, or premature death, with children under five years accounting for more than 80 per cent of the burden.
The minister warned that the consequences extend far beyond immediate sickness and fatalities, affecting the long-term cognitive, physical, and developmental potential of millions of Nigerian children.
Diarrhoeal Diseases Driving the Burden
Salako identified diarrhoeal diseases as the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in Nigeria, attributing over 40 million cases annually to pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, and rotavirus.
“These infections continue to be a major cause of hospitalisation, malnutrition, and mortality among our youngest citizens,” he said.
He also highlighted the growing threat posed by chemical contamination, particularly lead exposure through contaminated grains, spices, and water sources, which contributes significantly to illness and disability nationwide.
According to the minister, the findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen food safety systems across the entire food production and distribution chain.
Nigeria Making Progress
Despite the challenges, Salako acknowledged that Nigeria has made notable progress in strengthening its food safety architecture.
He pointed to the country's improved performance during the 2023 Joint External Evaluation (JEE), which recorded measurable advancements across all food safety indicators.
He also revealed that Nigeria's 2025 State Party Annual Report (SPAR) score of Level 3 places the country ahead of the WHO food safety benchmark for low- and middle-income countries and Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This means Nigeria is now one of the leading countries in the region in establishing functional systems for detecting, reporting, and responding to foodborne disease events,” he said.
The minister cited the establishment of the National Food Safety Management Committee and the introduction of the 2023 National Integrated Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response as major milestones.
The guidelines, he explained, provide a unified framework for disease surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, outbreak investigation, food recalls, traceability, and risk communication.
New Measures to Combat Health Risks
Salako stressed that the latest WHO figures should serve as a wake-up call rather than a reason for complacency.
He called for intensified surveillance of heavy metals and chemical contaminants, improved food safety practices in traditional and informal markets, stronger sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, and stricter compliance with national food safety standards.
Beyond foodborne infections, the minister warned that unhealthy diets are fuelling a rise in non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
To address these challenges, he disclosed that the government has developed National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction in line with WHO recommendations, while the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has completed a draft sodium reduction regulation for processed foods.
Nigeria is also implementing regulations to eliminate industrial trans fats and is strengthening the sugar-sweetened beverage tax as part of efforts to reduce excessive sugar consumption.
Additionally, plans are underway to introduce Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) to help consumers make informed dietary choices.
“These actions demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that food in Nigeria is not only safe but also healthy,” he said.
Shared Responsibility
The minister emphasized that ensuring food safety requires collaboration among government agencies, food manufacturers, researchers, development partners, media organizations, and consumers.
He urged industries to reformulate products by reducing salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats while improving hygiene, traceability, and transparent labelling.
Academia, he noted, must continue generating evidence on emerging food hazards, while development partners should sustain support for disease surveillance and capacity building.
He also encouraged Nigerians to adopt safer food handling practices and make healthier dietary choices.
“Food safety is everyone’s business. It saves lives, strengthens our economy, and protects our children,” Salako declared.
Call to the Media
The minister reserved special commendation for the World Health Organization, the World Food Safety Day Planning Committee, the National Food Safety Management Committee, regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and development partners for their contributions to food safety efforts in Nigeria.
He also challenged the media to intensify public awareness campaigns on food safety and healthy eating habits.
“The media plays a critical role in shaping public behaviour, exposing unsafe practices, and promoting accountability. Your voice is essential in moving our nation from burden to solutions,” he said.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in marking World Food Safety Day 2026, the minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a nation where every household can trust that the food on its table is safe, healthy, and fit for consumption.
“Together, we can build a Nigeria where every household, every market, and every community can confidently say: the food on our table is safe,” he concluded.
