WHY THERE ARE CONTROVERSIES ABOUT PROCESSED FOODS IN NIGERIA

By the year 2025, >75% of people with diabetes will reside in developing countries as compare with 62% in 1995. It cannot be over emphasized that cancer and its destructive effects are very much in Nigeria; several Nigerians families have experienced the agony of losing relations to Cancer. These factors that contribute to negative public perceptions about processed foods as a result of increasing prevalence of Obesity and Heart diseases from Fatty foods, Diabetes from Sugary foods, Hypertension from salty foods and use of chemicals in food production etc.
A range of factors contribute to this perception such as uneasiness with technology, labeling, and advertising, food access, availability of adequate resources in obtaining appropriate food for a nutrient diet within the country by processed foods in Nigeria.
Firstly, the low awareness, knowledge and acquaintance about Food Science and Technology are affecting the country as a whole due to poor dietary habits. Some Food businesses have incorrectly applied the knowledge of Food Science and Technology to develop processed foods leading to these perceptions. Production of adulterated foods (e.g. substituting mackerel fish in sardine with an unknown fish to reduce cost and increase sales, not allowing Garri to ferment to save time, money and energy etc), Misbranded foods (local drinks produced in a local area but shown on the bottle it was made in Spain or France) are common in our country. Even due to the low awareness and acquaintance about Food science, the environment has being cheating on our intelligence directly and indirectly. I.e. not differentiating between fruit drink, fruit juice and wine. A fruit drink is produced from a fruit concentrate (evaporate the fruit juice to a high viscous/thick form) with sugars, additives and large quantity of water to produce a highly bulk drink such as 5’ Alive, Lacacera, Chivita etc. Fruit juice (like Eva Juice not Eva wine) are usually bottled, nothing like non alcoholic wine in Nigeria, all wine are produced from a fermented juice (alcohol) and can either be red or white wine. Beer is the weakest carbonated alcoholic beverage than wine, although wine has more beneficial effects.

Secondly, due to the high availability of processed food, people have abused it. When you over consume sugar and under consume sugar leads to diabetics mellitus. Over consumption of Vitamin could leads to Vitaminosis. Consuming the all foods at moderate level is the safest to a good dietary habit and good practice of Food Science and Technology will limits health hazard.

In conclusion, over 70 percent of high school students are not aware Food Science and Technology is offered as a tertiary course in not only Nigeria, Africa also. This information could empower, transform and raise students to be effective and productive than any Food Business Owners we have known. Lets encourage our youths, spread the news so that we could talk more on industrialization, solution to health risks and food security in future.
It is not only government we need leadership, we need leadership in our schools, industries, communities and even in our homes. Imagine if we have more than one Aliko Dangote (Food Business Owner with net worth of $25B) in over 170 million Nigerians, we could reduce our level of unemployment in Nigeria. Do you know he his richer than the Chelsea Football Club Owner- Roman Abramovich (net worth of $9.6B).
Just as a friend said, a mad given money cannot use the money to buy cloth or rent an apartment (two basic needs) he will use it to buy food. Food is a lucrative business and a basic need for survival.
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10:00am, 16/09/14.