Uganda's Food Safety Crisis: Activists Demand Overhaul Amid Health and Export Risks

A coalition of food safety advocates in Uganda has highlighted a severe public health and economic crisis stemming from unsafe food. They report that over 1.3 million Ugandans suffer from foodborne illnesses annually, contributing significantly to the country’s overall disease burden.

Key concerns include contamination from toxic pesticide residues found on fresh produce, which accounts for over 60% of foodborne illnesses. Aflatoxins, toxic compounds from fungi that affect staple crops like maize and groundnuts, are another major threat, leading to an estimated 3,700 new cases of liver cancer each year and costing the nation millions in economic losses.

The implications extend to Uganda’s export market, with approximately $60 million in annual earnings lost due to agricultural products failing to meet international safety standards. The misuse of chemicals, particularly pesticides, has also resulted in thousands of poisoning cases and deaths over recent years. Furthermore, emerging data suggests a high prevalence of antibiotic residues in chicken, raising fears of antimicrobial resistance.

Advocates argue that Uganda’s current food safety regulations, primarily based on a 1959 law, are critically outdated and insufficient to combat modern food threats. They are urging the government to establish a centralized food regulatory authority, modernize laws, enhance enforcement, expand food testing capabilities, and promote solutions like Aflasafe to reduce aflatoxin contamination.

Failure to act, they warn, will lead to escalating healthcare costs, damaged export prospects, reduced national productivity, and increased poverty among vulnerable populations.

Read more at: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/contaminated-food-threatens-lives-exports-activists-call-for-urgent-regulatory-overhaul-5488756