Unsafe Food Leads to 53,000 Deaths Every Year in Nigeria, Minister

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, says unsafe food makes nearly 50 million people sick and causes over 53,000 deaths each year in Nigeria.

Mr Salako shared this information on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 World Food Safety Day event. The theme was “From Burden to Solutions, Safe Food Everywhere.”

He highlighted that food safety is a key priority for national development. It has significant effects on public health, productivity, economic growth, and the overall wellbeing of Nigerians.

He mentioned that foodborne diseases lead to about 4.26 million years of healthy life lost each year due to sickness, disability, and early deaths across the country.

“Most of this burden falls heavily on children under five, who account for more than 80 per cent of all foodborne disease burdens in Nigeria,” he said.

“In practical terms, this means the true cost of unsafe food is measured not only in sickness and death, but also in lost cognitive, physical, and developmental potential,” he added.

Mr Salako pointed out that the situation reflects a wider global challenge. He referred to new estimates from the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding foodborne diseases.

According to him, WHO estimates show that unsafe food leads to around 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths worldwide each year.

He said that Africa has the highest per-capita burden of foodborne diseases. Children under five carry a large part of the global burden.

The minister mentioned that over 40 million diarrhoeal illnesses in Nigeria are linked to foodborne germs like Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, and rotavirus.

He explained that these infections are major causes of hospital visits, malnutrition, and deaths among children. Chemical hazards are also becoming serious public health threats.

He noted that exposure to lead from contaminated grains, spices, and water sources adds to illness, disability, and early deaths in the country.

“These numbers show the need to strengthen food safety systems throughout the entire value chain,” Mr Salako said.

He stressed the importance of better surveillance, stronger prevention measures, and improved coordination among those involved in food production, processing, and distribution.

Despite the challenges, Mr Salako said Nigeria has made good progress in improving food safety systems through coordinated national efforts and teamwork between institutions.

He stated that the 2023 Joint External Evaluation showed measurable progress in food safety indicators. The 2025 State Party Annual Report surpassed WHO regional targets.

According to him, Nigeria is now one of the leading countries in Sub-Saharan Africa for detecting, reporting, and responding to foodborne disease outbreaks.

Mr Salako said the National Food Safety Management Committee has improved collaboration across sectors. He added that surveillance guidelines have greatly enhanced national response mechanisms.

“The new WHO estimates are a call to action. These achievements must not lead to complacency. We must improve food safety practices in traditional and informal markets,” he said.

He also called for better monitoring of heavy metals and chemical contaminants, improved sanitation facilities, better lab capacity, and stricter adherence to food safety standards.

The minister said food safety is not just about preventing infections. It is also key to tackling high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stroke, and heart diseases linked to diets.

He pointed out that Nigeria has developed National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction based on WHO standards and is finalizing regulations on sodium levels in processed foods.

Mr Salako mentioned that the country is enforcing rules to eliminate trans fats, making Nigeria one of the first African countries to adopt WHO’s limits on industrial trans fats.

He also said the government is enhancing taxes on sugary drinks and creating front-of-pack food labels to help consumers make healthier choices.

“These actions show our commitment to making sure that food in Nigeria is not just safe, but also healthy,” he said.

He urged industries to reformulate products, cut unhealthy ingredients, improve traceability, and keep accurate labels. He encouraged research into new food hazards.

He also asked Nigerians to practice safer food handling, cut down on salty and sugary foods, and adopt healthier diets.

“As we celebrate World Food Safety Day 2026, let us remember that food safety is everyone's responsibility. It saves lives, boosts our economy, and protects our children.

“Together, we can build a Nigeria where every home, market, and community can confidently say: the food on our table is safe,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Food Safety Day is observed every year on June 7 to raise awareness and inspire action against foodborne risks.