Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has assured Nigerians that genetically modified organisms (GMOs), especially those found in food, do not pose a health risk to humans as long as appropriate safety precautions are taken.
This was said by the DG in an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, dispelling any remaining doubts regarding the safety of genetically modified organisms. She clarified that the kind of food and the procedures followed in its development and approval have a significant impact on GMOs safety.
The NAFDAC boss said, “GMOs are not bad for us. They are not. It depends on the type of foods and whether safety considerations have been taken,”
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that the primary organization in charge of evaluating and guaranteeing the safety of genetically modified foods in the nation is the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
She further mentioned that NAFDAC works closely with the agency to guarantee that all GMO goods that are licensed adhere to national safety regulations.
She explained, “We have a Memorandum of Understanding with NBMA. They are mandated to ensure that GMO foods are safe”
“I want to know that what I eat will have a good health outcome. She stated that genetically modified food goods must have unambiguous labels stating their GMO presence. “I look at the label, and I want to be sure the NAFDAC label is on it,” she remarked.
Prof. Adeyeye further restated that NAFDAC’s responsibility is to guarantee that all food items sold in Nigeria are safe, of the highest caliber, and thoroughly examined before being approved.
“Our goal is to ensure the foods we approve for the market are safe, high-quality, and efficacious. That is why our collaboration with NBMA is excellent. Without their certification, we cannot approve any GMO product,” she said.
