World Food Safety Day
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), worldwide unsafe food causes approximately 600 million cases of food- borne diseases and 4,20,000 deaths annually. Unsafe food is a serious threat to human health and economies. It is mostly the marginalized and vulnerable people, especially women and young children, migrants and populations affected by conflict, who bear the brunt of it all. Food is the focal point of our health, energy and our wellbeing. We often take for granted that all the food we eat is safe. But, in a progressively interconnected world where food value chains are constantly growing longer, there is a need for robust food-related standards and regulations to keep us safe.
Food Safety thus plays a critical role here. ‘Food Safety ‘refers to the absence of hazards in food that are known to harm consumers’ health. These food- borne hazards can be chemical, microbiological, or physical and may not be visible to the naked eye.
History of World Food Safety Day
On 3rd August 2020, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to recognize World Food Safety Day as an important milestone and platform for raising awareness at all levels about the importance of food safety, and for promoting and facilitating actions to prevent foodborne diseases at local, national and global levels; to strengthen global efforts for food safety to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases.
On 20 December 2018 the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 73/250 proclaiming a World Food Safety Day. As of 2019, every 7 June is a time to celebrate the myriad benefits of safe food.
After acknowledging the global burden of foodborne diseases on individuals of all ages, the United Nations General Assembly then proclaimed in 2018 that every year, the 7th of June would be celebrated as World Food Safety Day.
World Food Safety Day: Date
This year too, World Food Day will be celebrated on 7th June 2024.
Why Improving Food Safety is Important?
Access to enough safe food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Foodborne illnesses are usually infectious or toxic in nature and often invisible to the plain eye, caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water. Food safety has a critical role in assuring that food stays safe at every stage of food chain- from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption.
With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually, unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, disproportionately affecting vulnerable and marginalized people, especially women and children, populations affected by conflict, and migrants. An estimated 4,20,000 people around the world die every year after eating contaminated food and children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 1,25,000 deaths every year.
World Food Safety Day on 7 June aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations. This international day is an opportunity to strengthen efforts to ensure that the food we eat is safe, mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally.
Food Safety and the United Nations
Keeping food safe is a complex process that starts on the farm and ends with the consumer. All stages of the food chain, from production, harvest and storage to preparation and consumption must be considered. The Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO) is the only international organization overseeing food safety along all aspects of the food chain.
Through a longstanding partnership, FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO) support global and protect consumer’s health. FAO addresses food safety issues along the food chain during production and processing, while WHO typically oversees relationships with the public health sector. Safeguarding food, so that it is safe to eat, doesn’t stop with its purchase, though. At home, consumers have a part to play in making sure that what they eat remains a
Food Safety & Sustainable Development Goals
GOAL1: Food safety is key to achieving several of the Sustainable Development Goals and World Food Safety Day brings it into the spotlight, to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks. Safe food contributes to economic prosperity, boosting agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development.
GOAL 2: There is no food security without food safety. Ending hunger is about all people having access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
GOAL 3: Food safety has a direct impact on people’s health and nutritional intake. Foodborne diseases are preventable.
GOAL 4: When countries strengthen their regulatory, scientific and technological capacities to ensure that food is safe and of expected quality throughout the food chain, they move towards more sustainable patterns of food production and consumption.
GOAL 5: A globalized world with annual food exports currently in excess of USD 1.6 trillion and complex food systems demands international cooperation across sectors to ensure food is safe. Food safety is a shared responsibility among governments, food industries, producers and consumers.
Why World Food Safety Day is celebrated?
Human beings depend on a few fundamental needs for living. Food, clothing, shelter are the minimum requirements for a decent standard of living. Throughout history, food has served as a catalyst for societal transformation, expansion, and development. But now, food safety has become an important issue. How food is produced, handled, stored and consumed impacts its safety, it’s the consumer’s health that takes a hit. Hence World Food safety Day is celebrated every year to mark the importance of food safety.
The primary objective of World Food Safety Day is to raise awareness about the risks associated with unsafe food and to promote action to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne diseases. It aims to encourage governments, food producers, consumers, and other stakeholders to adopt and implement measures to improve food safety along the entire food supply chain.
World Food Safety Day holds significant importance for several reasons:
- Public health: Foodborne illnesses pose a significant threat to public health globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 600 million people fall ill and 4,20,000 people die each year due to contaminated food. World Food Safety Day raises awareness about these risks and promotes measures to prevent foodborne diseases, ultimately safeguarding public health.
- Consumer protection: Food safety ensures that consumers have access to safe and wholesome food. By celebrating World Food Safety Day, individuals are empowered with knowledge about safe food handling practices, proper storage, and awareness of potential hazards. This enables consumers to make informed choices and protect themselves and their families from foodborne illnesses.
- Global Cooperation: World Food Safety Day serves as a platform to foster international cooperation and collaboration. It encourages governments, organizations, and stakeholders to work together in sharing best practices, scientific research and regulatory frameworks. By promoting global cooperation, the day helps to harmonize food safety standards and strengthen efforts to prevent and manage foodborne diseases across borders.
- Sustainable Development: Food safety is intricately linked to sustainable development goals. Safe food production and handling practices contribute to sustainable agriculture, reducing food waste, and promoting environmental sustainability. World Food Safety Day highlights the need for sustainable food systems that prioritize safety, nutrition, and environmental responsibility, supporting long term development and resilience.
Why Improving Food Safety is Important?
Producers, consumers, and governments are equally responsible for food safety. Everyone has an important role to play from farm to table, to make sure the food we consume is safe and will not adversely affect our health. Access to safe food is vital to promoting good health and sustaining life, and that’s why its important to improve food safety. After all, food protection contributes to human health, food security, agricultural growth, tourism, market access, and sustainable development.
World Food Safety Day Theme:
This year theme underlines the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents, no matter how mild or severe they can be. Food safety incidents are situations where there is a potential or confirmed health risk associated with food consumption. A food incident can happen, for example, due to accidents, inadequate controls, food fraud or natural events. While being ready to manage food safety incidents requires dedicated effects from policy makers, food safety authorities, farmers and food business operators, consumers can play an active role.
Conclusion
We all know that safe food is essential for the health and wellbeing of people, animals and the environment. We can benefit from food’s nutritional value only when it is safe for consumption.
Food safety has an important role in ensuring that food stays safe at each and every stage of the food chain, right from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to consumption. Let’s take this day as an opportunity to strengthen efforts to ensure that food we eat is completely safe, and to reduce the burden of food borne diseases globally.