The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over the growing burden of foodborne diseases in Nigeria, revealing that unsafe food causes more than 53,000 deaths and nearly 50 million illnesses every year across the country.
According to The Punch, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing to commemorate the 2026 World Food Safety Day, themed “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
Salako described food safety as a critical public health and national development issue, warning that the impact of unsafe food extends beyond sickness and death to the loss of human capital, particularly among children. He noted that Nigeria loses an estimated 4.26 million years of healthy life annually due to illness, disability, and premature deaths linked to foodborne diseases.
According to the minister, children under the age of five account for more than 80 percent of Nigeria’s foodborne disease burden, making them the most vulnerable group affected by unsafe food consumption.
Punch reported that diarrhoeal diseases remain the leading cause of foodborne illnesses in Nigeria, with more than 40 million cases linked to pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Campylobacter, Shigella, and rotavirus.
The minister also warned about growing exposure to chemical contaminants, including lead and other hazardous substances found in contaminated grains, spices, and water sources, stressing the need for stronger food safety systems across the country’s food value chain.
Citing recent estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO), Salako noted that unsafe food causes approximately 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths globally every year, with Africa bearing the highest burden per capita.
Despite the challenges, the minister said Nigeria has made progress in strengthening food safety monitoring and response systems, but stressed that the latest figures should serve as a wake-up call for government agencies, food producers, and consumers alike.
Source: Punch Newspaper
