Food-borne infections on rise in city centres

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in demand for agricultural products in Uganda. While the whole nation is still grappling with the spread of virus, a report has shown that there is a high prevalence of food-borne infections in Kampala.

According to a report carried by Hello Fresh, an online food delivery company, over 1.3m Ugandans are diagnosed with food-borne infections across the country annually. The report indicated that 65% of those resided in urban centres.

Speaking during a vendor sensitisation session at Nakasero Market in Kampala, David Kiyemba, a director at Hello Fresh, presented the findings of their report, arguing that the problem should be addressed from the market levels.

"People eat from decent restaurants and still somehow complain about food poisoning. Yet it would seem from the fancy décor and ambience of the restaurant, that the food is handled safely.

"That is why before food safety is addressed at the restaurants, homes, hotels, among other places, it should be addressed from its distribution and storage point; the market. Many of the handlers of the food after purchase assume that the markets where their food is bought have proper and safe handling, yet most people are after preservation of the food to retain the value of their money and make profits. That is why our first campaign has been here in the market," Kiyemba stated.

Kiyemba said one in 10 people in Uganda fall ill every year because of eating contaminated food. He added that foodborne diseases can also be fatal, causing an estimated 420,000 deaths across the world per year.

According to the World Health Organisation, African has the highest burden of foodborne diseases and the highest death rate with more than 91 million people living in the African Region falling ill each year, resulting in 137,000 annual deaths.

While addressing the vendors, Kiyemba stated that the responsibility lies in their hands.

He urged them to wash fresh fruit and salad vegetables with clean, safe water before use; clean, wash and dry utensils for food preparation and cooking; and employ proper washing of cooking  and eating utensils using soap after use.