From Burden to Solution: Safe Food Everywhere

Every meal’s purpose is to nourish you, not make you sick.

Think about your last meal.

Where did it come from? Who handled it before it reached your plate? And how certain are you that it was prepared safely?

For many of us, the honest answer is “we don't know.”

That uncertainty is at the heart of this year's World Food Safety Day theme, "From Burden to Solution: Safe Food Everywhere." Every year, unsafe food causes millions of illnesses worldwide, placing a heavy burden on families, healthcare systems, and economies. Nigeria is no exception.

The World Food Safety Day was officially marked globally on June 7 but the conversation continued on June 25 when Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) organized a webinar, engaging food safety experts, consumer advocates, and regulators to examine how Nigeria can move beyond recognizing the burden of foodborne illness towards practical, science-based solutions that protect consumers every day.

Every part of the food chain is critical, from farm to table. When just one part of that journey fails, unsafe food can end up in your home.

Sometimes the risk starts in our own kitchens, where food is stored improperly in terms of location or temperature, raw and cooked foods are handled together, or basic personal hygiene is overlooked. Other times, it begins much earlier, in markets where poor sanitation, contaminated water, unsafe handling, and poor storage can expose food to contamination before it is even purchased.

The consequences often go unnoticed until someone falls ill or dies. Foodborne diseases can lead to hospital visits, missed work or school, lost income, and increased healthcare costs. 

The conversation also explored something many Nigerians consume every day but rarely think of as part of food safety: herbal consumables. From hibiscus leaf juice popularly known as "zobo," and bitter leaf to herbal teas and traditional remedies, natural products have long been part of daily life. The error is that, since many of these products are consumed as foods, drinks served at events, or home remedies rather than medicines, people often assume they can be taken freely without considering dosage or possible interactions with other treatments.

But one message from the webinar stood out:

"Natural does not mean safe."

Herbs contain active compounds that affect the body, just like conventional medicines. How they are prepared, how much is consumed, and what they are taken with all matter. Someone taking medication for high blood pressure, for example, may unknowingly increase their risk of low blood pressure by drinking large amounts of “zobo”. Bitter leaf may offer health benefits, but excessive consumption may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with certain kidney conditions. Even herbal teas promoted for weight loss or general well-being can become harmful when used continuously or without proper guidance.

The message was not that people should stop using herbal products. Rather, they should use them wisely. Asking questions about what a product contains, how it was prepared, whether it has been tested, and how it should be used are simple but important steps towards safer choices.

Consumers can do a lot to protect themselves, but they should not carry the entire burden. Safe food also depends on strong systems that keep unsafe products off the market in the first place. That means stronger surveillance, better inspections, improved sanitation, evidence-based regulation, stricter enforcement and penalties for defaulters, and greater accountability across the entire food supply chain: from producers and processors to transporters, market vendors, manufacturers, and regulators.

No consumer should have to rely on guesswork when choosing what to eat or drink. Whether it's food bought in the market or a herbal remedy shared by a friend, people deserve clear information and products they can trust. That's why CADEF continues to advocate for stronger food safety systems, improved consumer education, and greater accountability across the food chain.

Watch the full "From Burden to Solution: Safe Food Everywhere" webinar here on YouTube.

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