John Tehinse, Managing Director, Funta Services Nigeria Limited and Food Consultant has tasked food processors to take proper safety measures to guard against producing contaminated products.
The food consultant made the call in a presentation at the two-day training for food processors on Wednesday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The training was organised by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) on Basic and Advanced Food Safety and Hygiene Best Practices to meet regulatory standards.
He listed some of the activities that leads to unsafe food to includes; improper agricultural practices, polluted environment, a poor hygiene, misuse of chemicals, contaminated raw materials.
Others are; lack of preventive controls in food processing and preparation operations, untrained personnel, inadequate and improper storage, adulterated food and food fraud among others.
“Processors should ensure that food is produced and handled in an environment that minimizes the presence of contaminants.
“Food production should be subjected to regulation and control for proper monitoring, corrective actions, verification and documentation.
“Appropriate communication about the food process should be maintained among the relevant parties to ensure food safety and stability across the entire value chain,” the expert added.
According to him, food safety involves producing, handling, storing and preparing food in a manner that is not contaminated hence preventing food borne illness.
He added that safe food protects consumer from food borne illness, increases consumers confidence on the supply source and improve the earnings of the processors.
On her part, Mrs Patrichia Monwuble, Retired Director from National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), urged processors to register thier businesses for proper identification.
Monwuble who is also a Senior Associate, Funta Services Nigeria Limited, said that the regulators would provide the producers with the necessary guidance to maintain standards and safety of the products.
She also advised them to locate areas for waste and compost away from the production and packaging areas to prevent contamination in line international best practice.
The 50 processors were drown from four Local Governments Areas in Nasarawa and Benue States respectively.
The participants from Nasarawa State were drown from Lafia, Awe, Kokona and Doma LGAs, while those from Benue State were from Gboko, Makurdi, Otukpo, and Gwer East LGAs. (NAN).