The Federal Government has disclosed that unsafe food is responsible for more than 53,000 deaths and nearly 50 million illnesses every year in Nigeria, underscoring the growing public health challenge posed by foodborne diseases.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing held to commemorate the 2026 World Food Safety Day, themed “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
Salako described food safety as a critical national development and health security issue, stressing that the impact of unsafe food goes beyond illness and mortality to include significant economic and social losses.
According to the minister, Nigeria loses an estimated 4.26 million years of healthy life annually as a result of foodborne diseases through illness, disability, and premature death.
“Nigeria records nearly 50 million foodborne illnesses every year, and unsafe food causes more than 53,000 deaths annually in our country,” Salako said.
“Together, these illnesses and deaths result in a staggering 4.26 million years of healthy life lost to illness, disability or early death,” he added.
The minister expressed concern over the disproportionate impact on young children, noting that those under the age of five account for more than 80 per cent of the nation’s foodborne disease burden.
He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, food producers, health professionals, and consumers to improve food safety standards and reduce the incidence of preventable illnesses linked to contaminated food.
