By Damilare Adeleye

Prof. Moji Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has warned Nigerians against storing cooked food in refrigerators for more than three days.

In a statement released on Tuesday by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, the NAFDAC boss stressed the potential risks of storing cooked food for extended periods.

She said it could lead to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, ultimately resulting in foodborne illnesses and even death.

Adeyeye stressed the need for a robust food safety culture throughout the food supply chain to mitigate hazards and risks effectively.

She underscored that food safety is not only essential for public health but also crucial for economic development and food security.

The statement partly read, “She however, urged Nigerians to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days, warning that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of foodborne diseases that can lead to death.”

According to global health statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 600 million people worldwide fall ill each year due to consuming contaminated food, resulting in approximately 420,000 deaths annually.

This widespread issue also imposes significant economic burdens, with an estimated $110 billion lost annually in productivity and medical expenses in low- and middle-income countries due to unsafe food practices.