Ghanaian Scientist Uses Math to Tackle Food Safety Risks in Online Food Delivery Era

 Emmanuel Addai, a Ghanaian Ph.D. researcher specializing in Mathematical and Data-driven Modeling of infectious disease and cyber forensics at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has co-authored a pioneering study that reveals how the rapid growth of online food delivery services is fueling the spread of food-borne illnesses.

In the peer-reviewed article, Addai and his collaborators developed a mathematical model that incorporates both human and insect populations (particularly flies) to simulate how food safety is compromised during doorstep food deliveries. 

The model uniquely uses fractional calculus (Caputo operator) to reflect real-world memory effects such as poor hygiene practices and delayed policy responses.

The study shows that:

• Asymptomatic carriers, delivery personnel, and flies are critical transmission vectors.

• Government interventions such as food safety training for restaurant staff and stricter hygiene enforcement can significantly reduce outbreaks without disrupting food delivery services.

• The model was proven stable and accurate under rigorous mathematical conditions and tested using numerical simulations in MATLAB.

By integrating public health, data science, and mathematical modeling, Addai’s work provides a policy-ready framework for managing infectious outbreaks in urban food systems. 

This research aligns with global food safety goals and supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3, 11, and 12).

For Ghana and beyond, this research underscores the urgent need for better regulation, monitoring, and public health oversight of digital food platforms, particularly in rapidly urbanizing and densely populated cities. 

As the online food delivery industry continues to grow, especially in emerging economies such as Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and India, the lack of standardized food safety protocols and oversight for delivery chains has emerged as a major public health risk. 

Emmanuel Addai’s research provides an evidence-based mathematical framework for policymakers to anticipate and manage these risks through optimal interventions.

This work is particularly impactful for developing nations, where informal food vendors and under-regulated delivery systems often operate outside the scope of national health standards.

 His model can be adapted to simulate various real-world conditions urban slums, peri-urban hubs, and even cross-border trade routes, allowing government agencies and health departments to simulate outbreak scenarios, prioritize inspection strategies, and develop early-warning systems.

Furthermore, Addai’s contribution supports Ghana’s national priorities under the Ghana Food Safety Policy and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially:

• SDG 3: Good health and well-being,

• SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities,

• SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production.

Ultimately, Emmanuel Addai’s contribution stands as a critical bridge between theoretical science and practical policy application, enabling stakeholders to make data-driven decisions in regulating the fast-growing online food delivery ecosystem. 

This makes his research not only nationally important to Ghana’s public health strategy but also internationally recognized as a novel methodology applicable in both low- and high-income settings.

ByJulius Kofi Satsi