POISON ON THE PLATE: EXPERTS DEMAND EVIDENCE- BASED FOOD SAFETY ACTION, NOT FEAR

ValidViewNetwork discourse calls for science based warnings, indigenous language communication and stronger institutional accountability

When the food on a family’s table becomes a source of fear, the responsibility for restoring confidence cannot be transferred to consumers alone. Nigerians should not have to become laboratory scientists, toxicologists or food inspectors simply to determine whether what they eat is safe. The responsibility for protecting the public rests substantially with regulatory institutions, food producers, processors and distributors, backed by credible scientific evidence, effective enforcement and public education that people can understand.

This concern featured prominently at the fifth edition of the ValidViewNetwork Monthly Global Discourse, which examined the theme, “Poison on the Plate: Confronting Nigeria’s Epidemic of Fake and Adulterated Food Items.” The programme called attention to the need for a more effective approach to food safety communication, one that empowers consumers without making them solely responsible for identifying and avoiding dangerous products.

Held virtually on Sunday, 25 October 2026, between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. West Africa Time, the discourse brought together food scientists, environmentalists, public health practitioners, agricultural professionals, researchers, journalists, development experts, diaspora stakeholders, students and other concerned citizens.

The programme featured Professor Lateef Oladimeji Sanni, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI), and Professor Beatrice Olutoyin Opeolu, an environmental toxicologist, researcher and environmental consultant.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the discussion highlighted the importance of protecting consumers through reliable information, scientific investigation, effective regulation and accessible public education, rather than allowing widespread anxiety about food safety to become a substitute for institutional action.

CONSUMERS CANNOT BE LEFT TO POLICE THE FOOD SYSTEM

While consumers have a responsibility to exercise reasonable care when purchasing and handling food, they cannot independently detect every dangerous chemical, microbial contaminant or deliberate adulteration, Opeolu stated.

She went further: “A food product may look attractive, smell normal and appear properly packaged while still presenting a safety risk. Detecting certain contaminants requires appropriate laboratory equipment, scientific expertise and reliable testing procedures”.

She therefore affirmed that ordinary consumers do not have to shoulder the burden of identifying threats that even trained professionals may need specialised instruments to establish.

She charged regulatory institutions to take the lead in identifying unsafe products, investigating suspected violations, communicating verified risks, removing dangerous products from circulation where necessary and ensuring that offenders face appropriate consequences.

Food manufacturers, processors, transporters, distributors and retailers must also demonstrate responsibility throughout the food supply chain.

Reinforcing the narrative, Sanni emphasised that food safety is a shared responsibility involving government institutions, businesses, research organisations, market operators and consumers. However, shared responsibility must not become an excuse for regulatory institutions to transfer their statutory obligations to the public.

NAFDAC MUST SPEAK THE LANGUAGE CONSUMERS UNDERSTAND

A central concern emerging from the discourse was the need for food safety communication to reach Nigerians in languages they can readily understand and process.

Public warnings, product alerts, safety instructions and consumer education materials cannot achieve their intended purpose if they remain inaccessible to the people who need them most.

Nigeria’s linguistic diversity makes it necessary for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to strengthen communication in indigenous languages, including Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, alongside other relevant local languages.

The effectiveness of a public warning depends not simply on whether it has been published, but on whether the intended audience understands its meaning and knows what action to take, Opeolu said.

A consumer who cannot understand an alert about a contaminated product may unknowingly continue purchasing or consuming it. Similarly, a market trader who does not understand a safety instruction may fail to recognise a dangerous practice or report a suspected violation.

NAFDAC should therefore expand its use of community radio, local television, market outreach, town hall meetings, translated advisories and other communication channels suited to different communities.

Information should explain the nature of the risk, the products affected, the evidence supporting the warning and the practical steps consumers should take.

ValidViewNetwork reports that effective food safety communication requires more than issuing public notices; it requires ensuring that the information reaches the people concerned in a form they can understand and use it  to protect themselves and their families.

Professor Opeolu brought an environmental toxicology perspective to the discourse, highlighting the relationship between environmental contamination, food safety and human health.

Her contribution examined the potential pathways through which pollutants can enter food chains and the importance of understanding chemical contaminants and their toxicological implications.

This perspective is particularly important because food safety concerns may arise from substances introduced during production, environmental pollution, unsafe processing practices or contamination during storage and distribution.

Understanding these risks requires scientific investigation rather than assumptions based solely on appearance, rumours or frightening images circulating online.

Environmental toxicology, laboratory analysis and appropriate risk assessment can help determine the nature of a suspected contaminant, establish the extent of exposure and inform decisions about the measures required to protect the public.

Professor Opeolu’s contribution therefore reinforced the importance of connecting environmental evidence with food safety regulation and public health protection.

CONCERNS MUST BE BASED ON SCIENCE, NOT FEAR

The circulation of disturbing videos depicting alleged cases of food contamination and adulteration was also discussed during the programme.

The videos raised concerns about consumer safety and the possible consequences of unsafe food practices. However, the discourse underscored the importance of approaching such concerns through scientific evidence and responsible investigation.

A frightening video may draw attention to a potential danger, but it does not, by itself, establish the identity of a contaminant, the circumstances surrounding an incident, the extent of the risk or the source of the problem.

The Distinguished Discussants charged authorities to investigate credible allegations, conduct appropriate tests, establish verifiable facts and communicate their findings transparently.

Where an immediate threat is reasonably suspected, precautionary measures may be necessary while investigations continue. Nevertheless, public communication should distinguish verified findings from allegations, possibilities and unconfirmed claims.

Fear without reliable information can create unnecessary panic, damage confidence in legitimate food businesses and distract attention from the actual sources of danger.

Conversely, dismissing credible concerns without investigation can expose consumers to preventable harm.

The appropriate response is neither panic nor complacency. It is evidence-based action, proportionate public warnings and transparent accountability, they concluded.

FROM PUBLIC WARNINGS TO INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY

The discourse also emphasised that effective food safety requires strong institutions, scientific research, adequate testing capacity and coordinated enforcement.

Regulatory agencies should regularly communicate the outcomes of investigations, enforcement actions and product recalls, while protecting confidential information where necessary.

Public confidence will improve when citizens can see that complaints are investigated, unsafe products are traced, responsible businesses are held accountable and corrective measures are implemented.

Prof Sanni charged NAFDAC to adopt modern traceability systems which can identify the origin and distribution of contaminated products, issue timely alerts and prevent unsafe goods from remaining in circulation.

He was quick to add that these measures would require adequate funding, professional expertise and cooperation among relevant agencies.

ABOUT THE VALIDVIEWNETWORK MONTHLY GLOBAL DISCOURSE

The ValidViewNetwork Monthly Global Discourse is the flagship public engagement initiative of ValidViewNetwork, an independent media and professional services platform founded by Kayode Ogunjobi, PhD, FHEA, FFAN.

The programme connects scholars, professionals, policymakers, researchers, journalists and members of the public to examine issues affecting Nigeria and the international community. Through expert presentations and constructive dialogue, it seeks to promote evidence-based discussions, institutional accountability, public enlightenment and practical policy recommendations.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the real test of a food safety system is not how many warnings it issues or how frequently frightening videos circulate. It is whether institutions can prevent contamination, identify dangerous products, investigate credible complaints and protect citizens before avoidable harm occurs.

Nigeria must reject a system in which consumers are left to navigate a potentially dangerous food market through suspicion, rumours and guesswork. Equally, the country must resist the temptation to turn every alarming video into a confirmed scientific conclusion without proper investigation.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the message from the fifth Monthly Global Discourse is clear: educate consumers, but do not abandon them to protect themselves; investigate concerns, but do not manufacture panic; communicate risks, but do so in languages people understand. Above all, make science the foundation of food safety and institutional accountability the standard by which regulatory performance is judged.