An Open Letter to Restaurant Owners in Africa: How Food Handlers Should Dress

As I scrolled through Facebook recently, I came across a post from Itee Akrasi, a popular restaurant owner in Lagos, announcing the launch of her new restaurant. Attached to the post was this photo that immediately caught my attention...

 While congratulating her on the new venture, I couldn't help but suggest some precautions for handling food based on the photo. Unfortunately, she took offense, and a fellow woman (who is likely also a food handler) defended her...

This encounter sparked a brief research, revealing alarming facts about food handling and hygiene. For example, according to Unilever Food Solutions, poor personal hygiene among food handlers is a leading cause of food poisoning. 

And, according to data from World Health Organisation (WHO),

👉 91 million people fall ill from foodborne diseases in Africa each year, and 137,000 of them die from them.

👉 An average of 420,000 people die from foodborne diseases annually across the world. Thus, 1 in 3 of these deaths occur in Africa.

👉 This makes Africa the region with the highest burden of foodborne diseases per person in the world.

👉 Foodborne diseases impede our socioeconomic development.

These and other discoveries left me wondering how many people in Africa have fallen victim to preventable food poisoning due to lax laws and inadequate hygiene practices.

Therefore, as a concerned individual, I'm compelled to write this open letter to all restaurant owners across Africa. We can't afford to remain silent while countless people suffer from unnecessary illnesses and, ultimately, deaths.

As you can see in the above screenshot, Unilever Food Solution recommends "taking a look at what your crew should wear" against the incidence of food poisoning due to poor personal hygiene. The food authority goes ahead to share the following "proper kitchen attire" quick checklist for restaurant workers...

Coincidentally, Katrin Liivat, a former food safety consultant and current CEO of FoodDocs, emphasizes the importance of proper attire for food handlers in an article published this January. Her insights are particularly relevant for Africa, where weak laws and poor implementation often compromise food safety.

To our food handlers across Africa, please take note: proper attire is crucial for maintaining hygiene and preventing food poisoning. Thus, we urge you to prioritize the health and well-being of your customers.

In Africa, where laws are often weak and poorly enforced, it's essential for food handlers to take responsibility for their practices. We will continue to speak out against poor hygiene practices, even if it means offending those who refuse to take precautions.

The stakes are too high to remain silent. Millions of people are losing their health, wholeness, money, and lives due to preventable illnesses. We owe it to ourselves, our communities, and our customers to demand better.

Before I leave you to reflect on this, here's a quick list of do's and donts for food handlers also from Unilever Food Solutions.

Also, check out World Health Organisation's "golden rules" for safe food preparation according to Pan-American Health Organisation here.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Best regards,

Desmond Nweke

For: the Awake Digest Team