By Joseph Edegbo :
It is estimated that more than 200 diseases ranging from diarrhoea to cancer are caused by the consumption of unsafe food globally
Consequently, about 600 million people fall sick after eating contaminated food resulting in the death of about 420,000 every year.
A Veterinarian and Consultant, Dr. Yila Umaru disclosed this at a One day training on Food Security organized in Kaduna, North West NIgeria, for a group of Journalists by Africa Media Development Foundation and OmniAgrik.
Dr. Umaru explained that unsafe food contains harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances affecting 1 in 10 persons globally.
The Expert noted that children from 5 years of age are mostly affected by carrying 40% of the food borne diseases with 125,000 deaths every year.
He identified diarrhea as the most common illness causing 550 million to fall ill resulting in 130,000 deaths every year.
Dr. Umaru stated that consumption of unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diseases and malnutrition particularly among infants, young children, elderly and the sick.
On the economic impact, the Expert said unsafe food impedes socio economic development by draining health care system, tourism and trade.
Access to sufficient safe and nutritious food, he added, is key to sustaining and promoting good health.
He said about US $100 billion is lost every year in processing and chemical expenses arising from unsafe food in low and middle income countries.
He attributed the unhealthy situation to especially, poor handling of some foods from harvest to consumption stages.
