Oyo Govt Prohibits Styrofoam Usage

The Oyo State Government has prohibited the usage of Styrofoam for food packaging, storage, and other applications within state. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the state Commissioner for Health, revealed this information on Monday during the Food Safety Stakeholders Forum and the inauguration of the task force responsible for enforcing the directive.

Mrs Ajetunmobi, represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Akintunde Ayinde, stated that the move was in line with the government’s commitment to maintain food safety protocols within the state.

Recall that the Lagos State government initiated the ban on the use and distribution of Styrofoam and other single-use plastics across the state.

The Oyo State House of Assembly, later, on 8 February, urged the state government to also ban the use of Styrofoam for food purposes in the state, and also inaugurated the Food Safety Compliance Enforcement Task Force to oversee the enforcement of food safety rules and regulations in the state.

Mrs Ajetunmobi noted that 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 a great public health concern in the state.

According to her, the task force would be sensitising the actors along the food chain on the importance attached to the implementation of food safety standards by the government.

“Prevention is better and cheaper than cure; hence the need for people to adhere strictly to food standards to save lives.

“The directorate of Food, Water, and Laboratory Services is saddled with the responsibility of regulating food business operations to ensure the presentation of wholesome edibles for public consumption in the state. There are also plans to double efforts to monitor and inspect food business premises in the state,” Mrs Ajetunmobi said.

The permanent secretary, Mr Ayinde, who will be heading the task force, promised to work with the ministry to achieve its set objective.

The task force comprises members from the state Food Safety Management Committee, the Nigeria Police Force, the Association of Table Water Producers, and the Association of Canteen Workers, among others.