Food Safety: Audu Ogbeh warns Nigerians against using harmful chemicals for preservation (Photos)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has highlighted the need to enlighten the public on the dangers on harmful chemical products in the preservation and storage of agricultural products for consumption.

Chief Ogbeh gave the charge Monday in Abuja while speaking at a meeting with relevant agencies and stakeholders involved in food safety and Agric produce quality regulation. Discussions at the meeting centred on challenges of indiscriminate use of chemicals in agricultural produce preservation and storage.

In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Chief Audu Ogbeh said: “Our focus is on immediate action through high level public enlightenment on the dangers of inappropriate use of chemicals in food production, provision of safe storage materials and preservation methods in collaboration with relevant agencies and our development partners” Present at the meeting were the Beans Farmers and Marketers Association; the National Food Safety Committee; Consumer Protection Council, NAFDAC, SON, NOA and relevant FMARD agencies including the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute – NSPRI; NAQS and development partners – FAO, WFP and UNIDO.

The purpose of the meeting was to review Nigeria’s National Food Safety Policy and to strengthen regulatory interventions in this regard.