The Oyo State government has banned the use of styrofoam in the state, News About Nigeria reports.
The state commissioner for health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, made this known during the Food Safety Stakeholders Forum and the inauguration of the task force, held at the conference room of the ministry, Secretariat, Agodi, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Monday.
She noted that the decision of the government to ban the use of styrofoam was part of government efforts to uphold food safety standards in the state.
Recall that the state House of Assembly had, on Thursday, February 8, 2024, urged the state government to ban the use of styrofoam for food purposes in the state.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Akintunde Ayinde, noted that prevention is better and cheaper than cure, stressing the need for people to adhere strictly to food standards in order to save lives in the state.
“The menace of food poisoning, indiscriminate use of chemical products for food production, processing, packaging, and other sharp practices being carried out by food business operators have become great public health concerns in the state.
“The directorate of Food, Water, and Laboratory Services is saddled with the responsibility to regulate food business operations to ensure the presentation of wholesome edibles for public consumption in the state, planned to double her efforts to monitor/inspect food business premises in the state,” she stated.
The commissioner further stated that the task force would be sensitising the actors along the food chain on the importance attached to the implementation of food safety standards by the government.
