Researcher charges NAFDAC, SON on substandard foods, drinks

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 A researcher, Prof. Polycarp Okafor, has called on relevant agencies of
the Federal Government to pay close attention to the quality of foods and drinks in the market.

Okafor, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Monday,
said the move was to avoid dangers associated with food and drink toxicity.

He, therefore, challenged regulatory bodies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to act fast.

According to him, SON, NAFDAC and the Ministry of Water Resources should rise to the challenges of
ensuring that foods, drinks, water and the environment do not contain toxicants and chemical carcinogens
beyond acceptable limits.

National growth LS

The don, a Professor of Biochemical Toxicology at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU),
Abia, said the limit was set by Codex Alimentarius Commission.

He explained that “the commission is a joint international body of Food and Agricultural Organisation and
World Health Organisation of which Nigeria is a member.”

Okafor recently delivered his inaugural lecture on “Metabolism of Cassava Cyanide and Jim Jones Cyanide
in Humans: The Imperative of Food Safety in the Quest for Food Security.”

The lecturer, who said he had spent over 27 years doing research on metabolism of cassava cyanide,
pointed out that investigation on cassava should be a priority for the nation because of its economic
and nutritional benefits.(NAN)

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