Nigerians have been cautioned against leaving their cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days to avoid contamination that could be injurious and fatal.

Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye gave the warning through a statement signed by the agency's Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, on Tuesday.

Adeyeye stressed that leaving cooked food beyond three days in the refrigerator exposed such food to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, leading to foodborne diseases that can lead to death.

"She (Prof Adeyeye) urged Nigerians to refrain from storing cooked food in the refrigerator for more than three days, warning that cooked food stored in the refrigerator for days is susceptible to contamination by disease-causing pathogens, key agents of foodborne diseases that can lead to death," the statement read.

The NAFDAC DG, while speaking at the 2024 World Food Safety Day with the theme, 'Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected', also appealed for conscious efforts to create a food safety culture by stakeholders to lessen food hazards and risks.

Adeyeye not only highlighted the importance of food safety to public health, but also for economic development, emphasising that from producers to consumers, everyone must play their part to ensure food safety.

"Let us all stay true to the statements 'food safety is everyone's business' and 'food safety is a shared responsibility' as we mark this year's World Food Safety Day.

"Working together, we will continue to strengthen our food safety system, ensuring its resilience, robustness and preparedness for the unexpected," the NAFDAC DG noted.