Food safety still a challenge in South Sudan

Food-borne diseases have become a common problem in the world, especially in developing countries. In South Sudan, a huge chunk of the population is battling the diseases due to the prevailing factors that make them predisposed.

Yesterday, the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards raised a concern about the influx of expired or substandard food commodities. They said the neighbouring countries have taken South Sudan as a dumping ground for their expired goods. The SSNBS urged the governors in Juba to ensure all food commodities entering their respective states are safe and meet the required standards.

This was the strong warning made by the officials from the SSNBS during the fifth governors’ forum deliberation yesterday in Juba. The government needs to utilise the necessary resources for the protection of its citizens against the consumption of expired food or those that do not meet international standards. The indisputable fact is that the rate at which people are getting sick in this country, especially in the capital, Juba, is very rampant and this could be attributed to the food that people often eat.

Most of the illnesses have become resistant to treatment. Most of the hospitals or the medics in Juba alone will tell you that they mostly prefer checks on diseases related to food poisoning.

The problem could have a strong bearing on the types of food that we eat since the country entirely depends on imported food from the neighbouring countries. Most of those food commodities are substandard or expired. They are causing serious health issues for our citizens. Expired food often contains bacteria, viruses, parasites, or other disease-causing toxins that, when consumed by human beings, eventually cause foodborne diseases.

Negligence and lack of adherence to international standards by our traders who often import food into the country are making the citizens consume expired foods which are dangerous to their health.

Substandard food products are posing a serious threat to public health safety and economic development. Hence, the government needs to support the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards.

The SSNBS is one of the strongest institutions in the country that need to be provided all the necessary resources to carry its duty fully. The institution needs to be equipped with advanced equipment to detect all food commodities that are being imported into the country to ensure they meet international standards.

If the government cannot provide good healthcare to its citizens, then it should not hesitate to monitor the standards of food being imported into the country.

According to the National Bureau of Standards, most of the foods that are imported into the country are either expired or substandard. This clearly shows that those imported foods are just entering the country without being detected at the borders, and it implies that the country either lacks the equipment or the traders are not complying with the regulations.