The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo, has warned Nigerians that food can become poisonous if it is not properly prepared, handled and stored, no matter how nutritious it may appear.
Mrs. Soludo, founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, gave the warning on Monday in a message to commemorate the 2026 World Food Safety Day.
The annual event, observed every June 7, seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of contaminated food and encourage actions to prevent and manage food-borne diseases. This year’s theme is: “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
Speaking on the importance of food safety, the First Lady stressed that healthy living goes beyond eating nutritious meals and includes ensuring that food remains safe from the farm to the dining table.
She noted that poor hygiene, unsafe handling and improper storage of food can expose individuals and families to serious health risks and preventable illnesses.
According to her, food safety is a collective responsibility that requires everyone to maintain proper hygiene during food preparation and storage.
“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 said.
Mrs. Soludo urged residents to embrace good food safety practices and make healthy choices that promote their well-being.
She added that adherence to food safety measures would help build healthier families, stronger communities and a more productive society.
The governor’s wife reaffirmed her commitment to promoting healthy living across Anambra State through sustained public health awareness campaigns and advocacy programmes.
She also called on households, food vendors and stakeholders in the food value chain to play active roles in ensuring that food consumed by residents is safe and hygienically prepared.
“Healthy food, safe food, healthy people,” she added.
