Ibadan, March 11, 2024 – Oyo State has banned the use of Styrofoam for food services, storage, and other food-related purposes.
Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the state Commissioner for Health, announced the ban during a Food Safety Stakeholders Forum and Inauguration of a Task Force on Food Safety Standards in Ibadan on Monday.
She said the decision was part of government’s efforts to uphold food safety standards in the state.
The commissioner, who was represented by Akintunde Ayinde, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said: “Prevention is better and cheaper than cure; hence the need for people to adhere strictly to food standards 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.
“Consequently, the use of Styrofoam for food services, storage, and other related usage in the state is also banned.”
The commissioner said 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.
It will be recalled that the state House of Assembly had, in February 8, advised the state government to ban the use of Styrofoam for food purposes in the state. (GBN)
