World Food Safety Day 2026: SoTLAN Calls for Stronger Food Safety Enforcement, Expanded Laboratory Capacity in Nigeria
The Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SoTLAN) has urged government agencies, food producers, regulators, and consumers to intensify efforts toward ensuring safer food across the country, warning that foodborne diseases continue to pose serious public health and economic challenges in Nigeria.
As the world marks World Food Safety Day 2026, the Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SoTLAN) has called for stronger science-driven food safety interventions, stricter regulatory enforcement, and increased investment in laboratory infrastructure to combat the persistent burden of foodborne diseases in the country.
In a statement signed by its President, Mr.
Bolawa Gbolahan, the Society said unsafe food remains a significant threat to public health and economic development, affecting millions of Nigerians annually through microbial contamination, poor food handling practices, chemical adulteration, and weak compliance with food safety standards.
According to SoTLAN, this year's commemoration presents an opportunity to move beyond awareness campaigns and focus on practical, evidence-based solutions capable of strengthening food systems, protecting public health, and enhancing consumer confidence.
The Society noted that food contamination can occur at several stages of the food value chain, including agricultural production, processing, transportation, storage, retail distribution, and household consumption. It stressed that mitigating these risks requires coordinated efforts among regulators, food producers, laboratory professionals, vendors, policymakers, and consumers.
Expressing concern over the continued prevalence of aflatoxins in staple foods such as maize and groundnuts, SoTLAN warned that the toxins have been linked to serious health conditions, including liver disease and growth impairment in children. The Society added that aflatoxin contamination also affects agricultural productivity and limits export opportunities for Nigerian produce.
Gbolahan further raised concerns about the misuse of hazardous chemicals in food preservation and storage, as well as the illegal application of pesticides and other harmful substances in food handling processes. He said such practices endanger public health and undermine national food safety initiatives.
The Society also emphasized the importance of integrating small-scale food vendors, roadside food operators, and micro-caterers into Nigeria's food safety framework, noting that they provide meals to millions of Nigerians daily and remain critical stakeholders in achieving safer food outcomes nationwide.
Among the measures recommended by SoTLAN are sourcing food ingredients from reputable suppliers, maintaining high hygiene standards, ensuring access to clean water, conducting routine medical examinations for food handlers, and participating in compliance programmes organized by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Speaking on the role of science in food safety management, Gbolahan described food safety as a national development issue with far-reaching implications for public health, economic growth, and consumer trust.
"Food safety is not merely a regulatory obligation. It is a public health imperative, an economic necessity, and a national development priority. As Public Analysts and laboratory professionals, we stand at the frontline of protecting consumers through scientific evidence, accurate testing, and professional integrity," he said.
He explained that Public Analysts, who are licensed professionals under the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), provide critical scientific evidence for regulatory decision-making, food safety investigations, product certification, export validation, and enforcement actions.
According to him, laboratory professionals play a crucial role in detecting aflatoxins, pesticide residues, heavy metals, adulterants, and other contaminants that threaten food quality and public health. Through laboratory testing and analytical verification, they help identify food fraud, monitor regulatory compliance, and support consumer protection efforts.
The Society maintained that strengthening laboratory infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of Public Analysts would boost consumer confidence, improve regulatory compliance, and increase Nigeria's competitiveness in regional and international agricultural markets.
Highlighting its partnership with IPAN, SoTLAN said both organizations remain committed to advancing national food safety objectives. While IPAN serves as the statutory body responsible for regulating and licensing Public Analysts, SoTLAN functions as a professional association dedicated to promoting quality assurance, laboratory best practices, professional development, and evidence-based solutions to national challenges.
The Society reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote safe food, protect consumers, and strengthen Nigeria's food safety system through science, professionalism, and effective regulation.
It also called on government agencies, industry stakeholders, development partners, food business operators, and consumers to collaborate in translating scientific knowledge into practical actions that ensure safe food for all Nigerians.
World Food Safety Day is observed annually on June 7 to raise awareness and inspire action aimed at preventing, detecting, and managing foodborne risks. The global observance is coordinated by the and the .
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