GAIN policy officer calls for urgent national food safety campaign
KAGERA: A Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) policy officer has called for the immediate launch of a national food safety campaign to tackle the growing problem of chemical contamination and unsafe food handling practices across the country.
Speaking during the national World Food Day celebrations in Bukoba Municipality, GAIN Policy Advisor Ms Leticia Ishengoma said misuse of pesticides on food crops and the dangers posed by improper storage and handling of produce was alarming.
Ms Ishengoma pointed to recent surveys showing that tomatoes—a staple in many Tanzanian households—are often contaminated with harmful chemicals due to inappropriate pesticide use.
“We need to address food safety right from the production stage. Many farmers are using the wrong pesticides or applying them incorrectly,” she said.
She explained that it is crucial for farmers to follow proper guidelines, including allowing sufficient time between spraying pesticides and harvesting crops, to prevent harmful residues from remaining on the food.
“If pesticides are applied today and the crops are harvested tomorrow, the chemicals don’t have enough time to break down, meaning consumers are at risk of ingesting them,” she warned.
Beyond pesticides, Ms Ishengoma also raised concerns about inadequate post-harvest storage practices, which further compromise food safety.
She cited a recent survey conducted in Dodoma, which revealed that farmers often dry maize directly on the ground, increasing the risk of contamination with aflatoxins—a toxic substance linked to liver damage, cancer and stunted growth in children.
“Aflatoxin contamination in maize is a serious problem in Tanzania. Poor storage methods are exacerbating the issue and the health consequences are severe,” she said.
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Ms Ishengoma also called attention to the unsafe practices of food vendors, particularly in urban areas, where many vendors keep hot food in plastic wraps or containers.
This practice, she warned, can lead to chemical leaching into the food, posing significant health risks.
“Food vendors are everywhere in our cities and while they provide an important service, their methods of storing hot food in plastic are harmful. Chemicals from the plastic can seep into the food and we need to educate them on safer alternatives,” she said.
As urbanisation increases, the number of food vendors has grown, but many lack awareness of safe food handling practices. Ms Ishengoma stressed the need for a comprehensive national food safety campaign that educates both farmers and vendors on best practices to ensure that food remains safe from farm to table.
“This practice can cause harmful chemicals to leach into the food, posing further health risks,” she explained, urging immediate action to raise awareness on safer food handling practices.
