By Fatima Saka
The Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has warned that food, despite its nutritional value, can become poisonous if it is not properly prepared, handled, and stored under hygienic conditions.
Soludo, founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, gave the warning on Monday in a message marking the 2026 World Food Safety Day.
Observed annually on June 7, World Food Safety Day aims to raise awareness about the dangers of contaminated food and promote practical measures to prevent, detect, and manage food-borne diseases. The theme for this year’s commemoration is “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
She emphasised that food safety remains a critical component of healthy living, noting that good health is determined not only by what people eat but also by how safe the food is from production to consumption.
“Healthy living begins not only with what we eat but also with ensuring that our food is safe from the farm to the dining table,” she said.
According to her, food safety is a shared responsibility that requires strict hygiene during preparation, proper handling, and adequate storage to protect families from preventable illnesses.
“A nutritious meal loses its value when it is not safe for consumption. Your food can either be your medicine or your poison. Whatever goes into your body has the capability to heal or destroy you. You are what you eat,” she added.
The governor’s wife urged residents to adopt safe food practices and make conscious choices that promote overall health and well-being.
She noted that embracing food safety measures would contribute to building healthier families, stronger communities, and a more productive society.
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Soludo also reaffirmed her commitment to promoting healthy living across Anambra State through sustained public health awareness and advocacy.
She called on households, food vendors, and stakeholders across the food value chain to play active roles in ensuring that food consumed by residents is safe.
“Healthy food, safe food, healthy people,” she stressed.
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