By Amaka Agwuegbo
President Umar Yar’Adua is worried by increasing incidents of food poisoning in the country, hence the creation of the  Association of Drinks Food Operators of Nigeria (ADFON) to instil proper hygienic conditions in public eating outlets.

National Principal Officer, Special Duties of the Yar’Adua Foundation, Barr. Abuka Onalo who spoke at the launch of the Association’s constitution in Lagos, said ADFON is committed to ensure that  increasing cases of food poisoning are eliminated or kept to a minimum.

“The President can’t afford to overlook the issue of good food so he wants Nigerians to eat good food for good health. And since 80 per cent of Nigerians eat out, it is important to ensure that operators of food and drinks are properly educated on proper hygiene.”

Onalo said the Yar’Adua Youth Foundation would regularly organise seminars and workshops for ADFON members as this will help the Foundation portray its points on health and also make the operators understand how seriously the President takes the issue of the health of Nigerians.

National President of ADFON, Mr. Emeka Ukaegbu, said ADFON was established when the standard of hygiene in the industry was almost at zero level with an increase in the cases of food poisoning.

“We live in a rnicrobial world and there are many opportunities for food to become contaminated as it is produced and prepared. The attendant error resulting from these are lack of proper safety and sanitation.

“The idea is to properly guide the food handlers by teaching them to understand the standard set up by relevant government agencies and why they should observe them in their daily activities and making sure we drive home the message of proper handling of drinks and food in order not to sell contaminated food to members of the public.”

Ukaegbu said the constitution would guide its members when processing food and drinks, noted that the constitution was necessary to avoid food poisoning because food is one of the basic necessities of life.

ADFON is poised to be one of the biggest unions in Nigeria,targeting about 20 million members before 2015. Presently,it is represented in several States with 40,000 members.