The Burden Of Food-Borne Illnesses Amid Scarcity

The report that Nigeria records nearly 50 million cases of food-borne illnesses annually is both alarming and deeply disconcerting.
The disclosure, made during the 2026 World Food Safety Day commemoration themed “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere”, underscores a public health challenge that demands urgent national attention.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), unsafe food is responsible for more than 53,000 deaths in Nigeria each year. Even more troubling is the disproportionate impact on children.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, painted a grim picture of the country’s food safety situation, noting that food-...