Highs and Lows of Food Irradiation in Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, one of the less developed countries, it was estimated that about 25% of the total food produced annually is lose due to wastage and spoilage between harvest and consumption (post-harvest/storage) especially for the highly perishable food substances such as vegetable, fish, fruits and dietary stables like cassava, yam, maize, millet etc. and sorghums. Amazingly, increasing food production receives more attention than exertions to salvage food losses. Population-Food imbalance crises caused by food wastage and spoilage are common in most developing nations of the world including Nigeria. One of the common objectives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization is to assist the efforts of member states throughout the world to provide safe and nutritious food supplies locally and globally. There are no exact data on how much of the world's food supply is spoiled, but losses are enormous, especially in developing countries where a warm climate favours the growth of spoilage organisms and hastens the deterioration of stored food. In such countries, the estimated storage loss of cereal grains and legumes is overwhelming high. This review brings in a lateral measure, assessment of impart of food irradiation, advancement and knocks, crises and windfalls with its practices in Nigeria, dissecting for the best global irradiation practices in Nigeria for food security and safety.