MY PLATE OF GARBAGE by Abeyd Aduyu

Description

Every bite we take carries the story of the soil, the farmer, the market, and the kitchen   whether we like it or not. Food is supposed to nourish us, but sometimes it’s more like a surprise lottery: will today’s lunch give me energy… or a side of stomach ache? Too often, what arrives on our plates tells a different story: one of hidden hazards, poor handling, and invisible contaminants that threaten our health. The sparkle of supermarket shelves, the aroma of freshly cooked meals, and the glossy promise of “fresh” often mask a darker reality: spoiled food, unhygienic preparation, and creative ways to ignore basic safety.

This book was not born in classrooms or conference halls, but in markets, eateries, and neighborhoods across Kenya. Here, food is a mirror reflecting our systems, values, and shared responsibility or the lack thereof. I have walked through dawn-lit markets where colorful produce sits beside open drains and insects that, frankly, should have a warning label. I have watched buyers choose based on price, ignoring the obvious signs. I have stood in kitchens preparing hundreds of meals with hygiene that can only be described as “adventurous.” Time and again, I asked myself: do we really know what we eat, or are we just pretending that ignorance tastes like flavor?

My Plate of Garbage is a journey into that uncomfortable, slightly nauseating question. This is not a technical manual, nor a blame-laden lecture, though if you’re guilty, you may feel a twinge. It is a reflection shaped by science, observation, and lived experience; a conversation about the journey of food from farm to fork, and the responsibility of every hand along the way. Every bite tells a story: of the farmer who tilled the soil, the transporter who moved the harvest, the vendor who sold it, the regulator who should have checked it, and the consumer who trusted it.

The book is a call to awareness, a challenge to action, and a plea for a little common sense. Food safety is everywhere in our homes, streets, schools, and hospitals. It is about preventing disease, preserving dignity, and protecting trust.