7 June – World Food Safety Day

Sangeeta Jain Sangeeta Jain Jun 7, 2019 1082 0

7 June – World Food Safety Day

Congratulation to all! The world now has a Food Safety Day!

Today, that is on 7th June we all are celebrating – “World Food Safety Day”. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed June 7 as World Food Safety Day on 20th December, 2018. This year the initiative is themed ‘Food safety, everyone’s business’, highlighting the access to safe and nutritious food for everyone is the responsibility of governments, producers as well as individuals. The first observation of Food Safety Day this year includes a launch event in New York with a panel discussion, joined by various experts on food safety and an interactive dialogue with panel members.

World Food Safety Day

Why is the need of – World Food Safety Day?

The requirement of this day is because, every year, an estimated 600 million people (nearly one in a ten) fall ill and 420,000 die after eating food contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances. Unsafe food also hinders development in many low and middle income economies, which lose around US$ 95 billion in productivity associated with illness, disability, and premature death suffered by workers.

The initiative of this event links to the Sustainable Development Goals put forth by the UN, particularly the following:-

  • Goal 2 – to end hunger, all form of malnutrition, and double the agriculture productivity.
  • Goal 3 – to prevent diseases and improve health and wellbeing for all
  • Goal 12 – to move towards sustainable practices of consumption and production
  • Goal 17 – strengthen global partnership (including trade laws) to grow sustainable

The UN has designated two of its agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to lead efforts in promoting food safety around the world. FAO and WHO are joining forces to assist countries to prevent manage and respond to risks along the food supply chain, working with food producers and vendors, regulatory authorities and civil society stakeholders, whether the food is domestically produced or imported.

 

 

 

Let’s celebrate – World Food Safety Day – But how?

Activities around the world for World Food Safety Day aim to inspire action to prevent, detect and manage food-borne risks

The right actions along the food supply chain, from farmers to consumers, as well as good governance and regulations, are essential to food safety.

FAO and WHO have created a new guide to show how everyone can get involved. The guide includes five steps to make a sustained difference to food safety:

  1. Ensure it’s safe – governments must ensure safe and nutritious food for all.
  2. Grow it safe – agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices.
  3. Keep it safe – business operators must make sure food is safely transported, stored and prepared.
  4. Check it’s safe – consumers need access to timely, clear and reliable information about the nutritional and disease risks associated with their food choices.
  5. Team up for safety – governments, regional economic bodies, UN organizations, development agencies, trade organizations, consumer and producer groups, academic and research institutions and private sector entities must work together on food safety issues.

Remember our health is in our Hand…..Keep your food safe to use…..!!!