On Monday, the Oyo State Government, banned the use of styrofoam for food packaging and other related usuage in the state.
Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the state Commissioner for Health declared the ban during the Food Safety Stakeholders forum at the government Secretariat in Ibadan.
Ajetunmobi described that the ban on styrofoam was part of the Oyo State government’s efforts to secure food safety standards of the state.
Wakadaily reported that on February 8,the Oyo State House of Assembly had impluse the state government to ban the use of styrofoam for food purposes in the state.
The ban on styrofoam in Oyo State came in few months after the product was banned in Lagos State, which referenced environmental nuisance and blockage of drainage.
On Monday, at the Stakeholder’s Forum the Oyo State health commissioner Akintunde Ayinde 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.”
However, Akintunde, described that the task force would be maintaining the tolerance of the actors along the food chain for the importance of the implementation of food safety standards in the state.
