Mariam Mwinyi calls for safe, nutritious food
Zanzibar. Zanzibar's First Lady, Mariam Mwinyi has called upon stakeholders to join hands in combating unhealthy diet and physical inactivity which are prevalent in Zanzibar.
Mrs Mwinyi who is also a founder and chair of Maisha Bora Foundation was speaking on June 7, 2023 during the commemoration of World Food Safety Day in Zanzibar where the Ministry of Health, through the Zanzibar Food and Drug Agency (ZFDA), organized a 5 kilometer public health walk for food safety under the theme "Food Standards Save Lives" with a slogan, “Food Safety, Everyone’s Business.”
The day followed the successful launch of the national nutrition campaign in the United Republic of Tanzania, through the European Union (EU) funded AGRI-CONNECT flagship programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar commemorate.
She said malnutrition, coupled with physical inactivity and sedentary behavior, are among the leading risk factors for dietary-related Non-Communicable Diseases (DRNCDs), principally cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory diseases.
“Food safety is a critical aspect of public health, ensuring that the food we consume is safe, nutritious, and free from contaminants. With the increasing importance of safe food practices, we hope that bringing together community members, local businesses, and stakeholders in this public walk for food safety will raise awareness and promote best practices in food safety and healthy lifestyles. Food safety is everyone’s business,” says, Mama Mariam Mwinyi.
On his part, Minister for Health Zanzibar Nassor Mazrui said they recognize that chemical agents such as mycotoxins and pesticide residues, biological agents such as vibrio cholera bacteria and entamoeba parasites, and physical agents such as broken glass and stones can all make food unsafe.
“Food safety is a major determinant of human health. Access to safe food is a basic human right. In Zanzibar, the Ministry for Health, through ZFDA, has the Standards Act mandated to control food safety issues. Unfortunately, the Standards Act does not include the infrastructure (particularly a multisectoral committee) needed for effective coordination of food safety and quality services (other than food standards setting).
“To commemorate the day, Tanzania is urged to adopt the FAO and WHO recommendations to improve the coordination of food safety control services in the country,” he said.
The event was also graced by the European Union ambassador to Tanzania and the East African Community Manfredo Fanti, who said that safe food from farm to plate is central to the EU’s food safety policies and a pre-condition for food trade, at home and abroad.
“This project responds to a well-rounded approach where citizens are involved in adopting nutritious diets and healthy lifestyles, irrespective of their incomes, as well as broadens to national distribution and market systems of safe food. At a time of increasing global food insecurities, every effort to ensure the availability of safe and healthy food is vital,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of FAO, assistant representative in Tanzania Mr. Charles Tulahi emphasized that, food safety is everyone's business, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) play a leading role in setting international food standards to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
“However, collaboration is needed at many levels, across sectors within a government, and across borders when combating food safety threats globally,” he says.
