Don seeks end to food fraud

By Daniel Essiet

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) have been urged to intensify control for food safety.

The European Commission estimates that the total costs of food fraud to the global food industry and to consumers amount to about 30 billion Euros yearly.

Crimes can vary from the deliberate mislabelling of a product to the fraudulent substitution of an ingredient for a cheaper and potentially unsafe alternative.

In Nigeria, there have been cases of premises operating as illegal cutting plants, allegations of extending use-by dates, and relabeling overseas products.

The Chief Executive, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Dr Olufemi Oladunni, stressed the need to remain vigilant against criminals and unscrupulous businesses whose activity undermines trust in food.

He said fraudsters were imitating a legitimate business to acquire a food product and not paying for were a significant financial impact to food businesses, as well as serious risk to consumers.

He said food crime and adulteration have become a serious issue which requires constant vigilance with Nigerians knowing and  accepting food products from assumed credible sources.

He said NAFDAC and NAQS must increase surveillance to ensure supply chains are transparent and that goods can be tracked from their source.

He stressed that potentially harmful substances were still finding their way into the food supply chains and potentially onto store shelves.

Oladunni said it was dangerous to allow food producers to compromise on the quality, origin and ethical sourcing of food.

He said such practices pose threat or risk landscape to food crime.

In worrying times, he said, government agencies must offer reassurance that food in the country remains safe and legitimate.

He reiterated that protecting the integrity of the food supply chain was a key priority and that a lack of trust in the food Nigerians are buying should not add to their worries.