New York, 7 June 2022 (TDI): To emphasize the importance of food safety, World Food Safety Day is observed each year by the United Nations on June 7.

The aim of celebrating this day is to highlight the existing food risk to the food chains and propose methods to avert these risks.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, 420,000 people die each year due to the consumption of contaminated food. An estimated 600 million foodborne diseases occur each year.

Consequently, children under five years constitute 40 percent of the fraction, with 125,00 deaths each year. Furthermore, access to adequate food supplies is pivotal to sustaining life.

Food safety is an integral step to ensuring sustainable development in agricultural food chains and economic prosperity while providing nutrient value to humans.

From production to consumption, food safety is a critical step in assuring food at every stage of the food chain.

contaminated food
Investments in food and agriculture are responsible ONLY when they ensure human rights, including the right to food, FAO.

Meanwhile, foodborne diseases consist of toxic bacteria, viruses, chemicals, or parasites that enter the human body via contaminated food or water intake. However, they are not visible to the naked eye, reducing the quality of life.

Food Safety measures 

Unsafe food is a significant threat to human health and the economy. It disproportionally impacts the marginalized and vulnerable communities. Migrants, displaced people, women, and children are at high risk due to the food security crisis.

According to the Assistant Director-General Dr. Naoko Yamamoto, World Food Safety Day 2022 will draw attention to and mobilize action to prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks and improve human health.

To illustrate, Dr. Yamamoto emphasized integrating the health approach, the system approach, and the greener approach to achieve SDGs. She was delivering remarks at an event in Sweden.

This year, Stockholm +50 side event on “Healthy, Resilient and Green Recovery was organized to highlight the WHO manifesto for health recovery from Covid-19.

In addition, the panel’s recommendations include protecting and preserving nature and investing in essential services from water, sanitation, and clean energy to healthcare facilities.

In addition, the global policymakers and practitioners also agreed to ensure a quick health energy transition, promote sustainable food systems, build healthy, livable cities, and cease taxpayers’ finances to fund pollution.

 

World Food Safety Day 

The annual celebration of this day draws attention and inspires action to help, prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks at every stage of food production.

Hence, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborate with the member states and stakeholders to facilitate the observance of this day.

Subsequently, their action plan includes compliance with the international and national food standards, food regulations, food control systems, and food safety management systems.

In addition, the organizations also aim to build the capacity of the consumers to adopt healthier food choices and alternatives.

“Food Safety for Everyone”

Moreover, the slogan of the campaign is “food safety, everyone’s business. This campaign aims to spread awareness and call upon countries, policymakers, research & development organizations, and civil society to take public action for general well-being of the people.

Accordingly, food safety can assure a healthy lifestyle, reduce food loss and waste, and prevent the risk of foodborne diseases.

On the whole, the organizations and stakeholders act together to reduce the burden of foodborne infections from the global economy.

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