Ghanaians have been advised to refrain from putting hot or oily foods in plastic bags because it poses major health risks.

The warning states that storing hot foods in polythene bags, especially ones that are not made for food storage can cause dan­gerous chemicals to leak into the food, which could be dangerous for one’s health.

Professor Esther Sakyi-Dawson, an Associate Professor of Food Science at the University of Gha­na, gave this warning at a World Food Safety Day celebration in Accra on Tuesday.

With the theme “Food Safety: Science in Action,” this year’s World Food Safety Day focused on the critical role that scientific knowledge plays in guaranteeing food safety and fostering confi­dence in the food supply.

According to Prof. Sakyi-Daw­son, when plastics are heated, toxic substances can seep into the food, contaminating it and raising the risk of several chronic illness­es, including hormone imbalanc­es, reproductive problems, and even some types of cancer, which are on the rise in the nation.

According to estimates from the World Health Organisation (WHO), food contamination caus­es over 400,000 deaths annually and 600 million foodborne illness cases.

Also, a third of all deaths worldwide are caused by food­borne illnesses, which affect at least 91 million people in Africa each year. Of these, 40 percent are in children under the age of five.

Given the concerning statis­tics, there is an urgent need to raise awareness that eating hot foods like banku, rice, waakye, or “koko” (porridge) wrapped in plastic is extremely harmful to one’s health.

It is more important to avoid putting food in black plastics, which are not food quality and are typically used for carrying items. Similarly, white polythene should not come into close con­tact with food.

Despite the warning, Ghana­ians have been urged to watch out for food-grade plastics, which are frequently thick, to use for food packing and storage as needed

Since “to be forewarned is to be forearmed” The Spectator advises consumers to put their health first by making the appro­priate choices about what they put into their bodies for their own safety.

 Dear Editor,

I write to express con­cern about the safety of school-going children during these unpredictable weather conditions.

Many children walk long distances to get to school on roads which are mostly poorly drained.

Also, the combination of low visibility, slippery surfac­es, and increased vehicular traffic during rains presents real risks to their health and safety.

While I urge local au­thorities to improve road infrastructure and pedestrian protections around schools, I wish to especially appeal to parents and guardians to take proactive steps in safeguard­ing their children during this season.

Parents should ensure their children are dressed properly in waterproof or warm clothing, including rain­coats, boots, and umbrellas where possible.

Also, parents should accompany younger children to school when it is raining or overly windy, or arrange for responsible adults to do so.

Again, I urge parents to teach their children basic road safety and help them identify the safest routes to school.

In my view, I think it will be prudent to delay leaving the house when rain is heavy or visibility is poor, even if it means arriving at school later and safer.

It is import­ant to remem­ber that safety begins at home. While schools and government agencies have a role to play, parents and caregivers, must not leave the protection of our children to chance.

I believe that with shared responsibility between the state and the family, avoid­able accidents could be prevented and ensure every child makes it to school and back home safely.

Abui, Korle Gonno