On 20 December 2018 the United Nation General Assembly adopted resolution 73/250 proclaiming a World Food Safety Day. Starting in 2019, every 7 June will be a time to celebrate the benefits of safe food. Food safety is the absence or safe, acceptable levels of hazards in food that may harm the health of consumers. Food borne hazards can be microbiological, chemical or physical in nature and are often invisible to the plain eye: bacteria, viruses or pesticide residues are some examples. Food safety has a critical role in assuring that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption.
with an estimated 600 million cases of food borne illness annually, unsafe food is a threat to human and health and economies, disproportionally affecting vulnerable and marginalized people, especially woman and children, population affected by conflict, and migrants. An estimate three million people around the world in developing and developed countries die every year from food and water borne diseases. Food is the starting point for our energy, our health and our well-being. We often take granted that it is safe, but in an increasingly complex and interconnected world where food values chains growing longer, standards and regulations are that much more important in keeping us safe.
KEY FACTS:
- Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is the key of sustaining life and promoting good health.
- Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances, causes more than 200 diseases ranging from diarrhea to cancer.
- An estimate of 600 million almost 1 out of 10 people in the world fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420000 die every year, resulting in the loss of 33 million healthy lives.
- Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the food borne disease burden, with 125000 deaths every year.
- Diarrhoeal diseases are the most common illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food, causing 550 million people to fall ill and 230000 deaths every year.
- Food safety, nutrition and food security are inextricably linked. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diseases and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young, elderly and the sick.
- Food borne diseases impede socio-economic development by straining health care system, and harming natural economies, tourism and trade.
- Food supply chains now cross multiple national borders. Good collaborations between governments, producers and consumers helps ensure food safety.
2020 THEME :
In 2020, thee second observance of World Food Safety Day, we all have a chance to recognized the people who help keep our food safe. 2020 was about promoting awareness and urging action by highlighting what everyone can do to ensure safe food. whether you grow, process, transport, store,sell, prepare or consume food, you have a role to play in keeping it safe.
With the five steps below you can see how everyone is involved in food systems and has a part to play in keeping food safe:
- Ensure it’s safe – Governments must ensure safe and nutritious food for all.
- Grow it safe – Agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices.
- Keep it safe – Business operations must make sure food is safe.
- Eat it safe – All consumers have the right to safe, healthy and nutritious food.
- Team up for safety – Food safety is a shared responsibility.
Track2Training 