OSOA FOODS, a Nigerian food processing consultancy, celebrated World Food Safety Day 26 June in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Abuja, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Lagos State Ministry of Health, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprise of Nigeria (NASME), Nigeria Police Force, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private organizations, faith based organizations (FBOs), and other collaborating organizations.

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day (MSME) was also celebrated, recognizing the need to focus on MSMEs in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular in promoting innovation, creativity and decent work for all. Also recognized was the formalization, participation and growth, of MSMEs, in international, regional and national markets including through access for all to capacity building, financial services such as affordable micro finance and credits. 

Osoa signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in order to reduce incidences of foodborne illnesses as well as to mitigate noncommunicable diseases and malnutrition of all forms in 774 local government areas in 36 States including Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja under the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Osoa’s aim is to highlight the consequences of unsafe foods, provide traceability as well as laboratory solutions in conformity with Codex General Principles of Food Hygiene (GPFH), to support the understanding of how to apply the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Pints system (HACCP) and good hygiene practices (GHP) with policy makers.

Specifically, actions will include but shall be but not limited to:

1. Education through training of food handlers on good manufacturing practice GMP, GHP and HACCP in all the 20 local government areas and 37 local community development areas (LCDAs) in Lagos State on food safety and hygiene practices in order to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

2. Possible data collection on food handlers and business for registration purposes to know area of business specialty.

3. Introduction of food handlers test for MSMEs/SMEs for food safety purposes.

4. Sensitization priority on nutrition (introduction and exposure to staple foods fortification) for the eradication of malnutrition.

5. Address various issues related to environmental and health concerns associated with PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) in Nigeria.

6. Address food loss and waste through interventions at the local levels.

Read more

World Food Safety Day 2025 news