Sachets d’eau, épices : ce que révèlent des études menées à l’UCAD
They were unveiled during the scientific day on food safety.
Adding spices to a pot to enhance the flavor, buying a 50 CFA franc sachet of water on the street, biting into a piece of fruit or a vegetable—these are all everyday actions we take without questioning the safety of the food we consume. Yet, 866 million people are affected each year by foodborne illnesses, resulting in 1.52 million deaths and the loss of 57.1 million healthy life years. These WHO statistics were reiterated yesterday at UCAD, during the 5th edition of the Scientific Day on Food Safety.
Senegal is not immune to this reality. Studies have been conducted on various topics related to food safety. The presentations given yesterday highlighted the poor quality of some foods consumed in the country. For example, regarding the microbiological quality of spices, one team concluded that there is "a lack of hygiene in the processing of the spice samples analyzed." The results also show "the toxin-producing potential of bacteria associated with these products, suggesting the need to regulate their sale."
Regarding water sachets, a study was conducted in Dakar and Mbour on 50 brands, based on 100 samples. The results are rather worrying, as contamination by fecal matter was observed. "The overall interpretation led to the conclusion that only 2% of the samples were satisfactory and another 2% were acceptable; these can therefore be marketed and consumed without risk. Fourteen percent were unsatisfactory, meaning they exceeded the acceptable limit without being toxic. For these, marketing is strongly discouraged due to the high probability of reaching the contamination threshold during storage. Finally, 82% of the samples were contaminated; they therefore do not meet the microbiological criteria for drinking water and are strictly unfit for consumption."
72% of the samples contained at least one pesticide residue
Thus, the research team believes these results call for the urgent implementation of a regulatory policy for the sector. Another study examined soils used for chili pepper cultivation in the Niayes region. "The results show that 72% of the samples contained at least one pesticide residue. Of the 18 molecules analyzed, five registered insecticides were detected: fenitrothion, cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos, profenofos, and bifenthrin."
These results indicate significant contamination of chili pepper cultivation areas in the Niayes region, one of Senegal's main agricultural breadbaskets. This underscores the need to review phytosanitary practices and promote alternatives to pesticides.
Health Minister Ibrahima Sy, who presided over the opening ceremony, highlighted the rise in chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc.), a significant portion of which are linked to dietary habits and food quality. He lamented that the food industry prioritizes marketing over product quality. However, the minister stressed that simply observing the situation is not enough. It is urgent to raise public awareness so that people understand the connection between what they consume and the chronic diseases plaguing society.
Children and the food industry
Beyond the health aspect, there are also financial consequences for families and the state budget. Ibrahima Sy particularly wants to target young people, who are more vulnerable to companies' marketing strategies, but also more receptive to awareness campaigns than adults, who have already developed more ingrained habits.
To achieve successful communication, he believes, it is essential to rely on scientific data. "We need research that informs us about the nutritional quality of food, its safety, the sources of contamination, the causes, and the dangers." This data can, for example, help establish a risk hierarchy to better guide decisions and resource allocation.
This task is all the more necessary because, as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Bara Ndiaye, points out, food contamination can occur at any stage, from production to consumption, including processing, transport, storage, and distribution. Hence the need for urgent action within a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach, making it everyone's responsibility.
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