Policy Brief: Enhancing Food Safety in Ebonyi State
DOWNLOADDecember 4, 2024 - Professor Obadina Adewale, Professor Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool-Tasie, Ms. Itohan Ebunoluwa Martins
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EmailThis policy brief explores food safety challenges in Ebonyi State’s wholesale markets for fish, tomatoes, and green leafy vegetables (GLVs), based on research conducted by the RSM2SNF project between July 2023 and February 2024. With 23 markets assessed, findings reveal critical gaps in infrastructure, public awareness, and hygiene practices.
Key Findings:
- Sanitation: Only 26% of markets have functional toilets, with over 700 traders per toilet, leading to unhygienic practices like open defecation and contamination risks.
- Water Access: 13% of markets have pipe-borne water; most rely on boreholes (57%) or untreated streams (30%), posing contamination risks.
- Waste Disposal: Improperly managed solid waste introduces pathogens like Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae into the food system.
- Awareness: No food safety regulations, posters, or training programs exist for traders in the surveyed markets.
Recommendations:
- Build more toilets and provide accessible treated water sources.
- Launch food safety education programs for traders and consumers.
- Integrate food safety into school curricula for long-term awareness.
- Employ and train more Environmental Health Officers to enforce hygiene standards.
- Enhance public-private partnerships for coordinated food safety efforts.
- Support innovative research for improving food safety technologies.
Conclusion:
Enhancing food safety in Ebonyi State requires a multi-stakeholder effort to address infrastructure gaps, improve hygiene, and raise public awareness. Implementing these recommendations will reduce foodborne illnesses, protect public health, and boost the local economy.
