Eating food exposed to flies can lead to a slew of health risks, including infections and diseases, experts have warned.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe food causes 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 deaths worldwide each year. Children under five years old account for 30% of foodborne deaths.
Flies are notorious carriers of diseases, as they flit between dirty environments before landing on food, posing a significant risk to consumers.
Speaking with PUNCH Healthwise, a public health physician, Prof. Tanimola Akande, explained that flies can mechanically carry germs, and when they land on food, they can transmit diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery, intestinal worms, and poliomyelitis.
Akande, a Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, said consuming contaminated food can lead to symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and stomach discomfort.
He advised that adequate heat while cooking may help kill germs, and washing food before cooking can also help prevent the transmission of diseases caused by flies perching on the food.
Also, a former President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, said food loses its nutritional value after contamination from flies and predisposes anyone who consumes such to sickness.
Afolabi, a professor of Community Nutrition, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, stressed the importance of keeping flies away from food.
He advised that covering food properly and ensuring good hygiene in food preparation and storage can prevent contamination.
Experts have called on the public to take necessary precautions to prevent food contamination, warning that consuming food exposed to flies can have serious health consequences.
