NAFDAC moves to ensure quality, reliable food products’ export

Worried by the declining reputation of Nigeria as a reliable supplier of quality food products to the global market and hazards inherent in food chain, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in collaboration with International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has flagged off a sensitisation campaign on mitigating Aflatoxin in grains.

Aflatoxin is a poison produced by a fungus called Aspergillus flavus, which resides in soil and dead matter in the field.

Apart from contaminating over 25 per cent maize and groundnut crop produced in Nigeria, Aflatoxin also affect many crops such as cassava, yam, grains and rice.

The campaign, which was flagged off in Abuja on Thursday, drew participants from agricultural research institutes, food industries and federal ministries.

While flagging off the campaign, Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Paul Orhii, said, “Aflatoxin have been implicated in chronic toxicity and liver cancer, suppression of the immune system and stunted growth in children.

“They also pose serious problems in international trade of agricultural product, particularly grains.”

Source : #‎DailyIndependent