Oyo govt bans use of styrofoam

The Oyo State Government has implemented a ban on the use of styrofoam for food packaging and other related purposes.

The announcement was made by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, during the Food Safety Stakeholders Forum and the inauguration of the task force on Monday.

The event took place at the conference room of the ministry, Secretariat, Agodi in Ibadan.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Akintunde Ayinde, Ajetunmobi emphasized that the ban was crucial to uphold food standards within the state.

“Prevention is better and cheaper than cure; hence the need for people to adhere strictly to food standards to save lives in the state.

“The menace of food poisoning, indiscriminate use of chemical products for food production, processing, packaging, and other sharp practices being carried out by food business operators have become great public health concerns in the state.

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“The directorate of Food, Water, and Laboratory Services is saddled with the responsibility to regulate food business operations to ensure the presentation of wholesome edibles for public consumption in the state and planned to double her efforts to monitor/inspect food business premises in the state.

“Consequently, the use of Styrofoam for food services, storage, and other related usages in the state is also banned.” She declared.

Recall that The Oyo State House of Assembly advocated the ban on the use of styrofoam in the state after the Lagos State government kick-started the ban on the use of styrofoam and other single-use plastics in January.