The second World Food Safety Day is being celebrated worldwide today under the headings of the World Health Organisation and Food and Agricultural Organisation. The Theme for this year is Food Safety : Everyone’s Business.
On this occasion the World Health Organisation has listed a few key messages and call to actions. We have noted them as follows.
Key Messages on the 2nd World Food Safety Day
- There is no Food Security without Food Safety : There are four dimensions of Food Security. Namely availability, access, utilization and stability. Its can be achieved only when everyone has both physical and economic access to dietary needs.
- Unsafe food takes a huge toll on human health and the economy : Contaminated food is one of largest health risks. The causes might range from viruses and bacteria to toxins and chemical contaminants. These problems hit the middle to low economies the hardest.
- Food safety is a shared responsibility from production to consumption : Food safety is not a single point activity. Everyone from the farmers to the factory workers in processing and packaging to the eateries where the food is served must adhere to the rules. The governing bodies must also look into these problems.
- Investing in sustainable food systems pays off : Sustainability in food production is one of the biggest needs of the hour. Since it is one of the basic needs, enabling productivity and market access will go a long way in development
- Implementing a “One Health” approach improves food safety : Human health is very closely knit to the environment and health of other animals on the planet. The process should be to eradicate the problems of infection at the production level. This will be much cheaper and easier compared to later handling it after consumption.
- FAO and WHO are supporting global efforts to promote safe food : They are working in co-ordination with member nations to facilitate global prevention, detection and response to public health threats associated with unsafe food.
- Codex Alimentarius Food Standards help protect health and facilitate trade : The Codex Alimentarius Commission establishes food standards, guidelines and codes of practice that ensure food safety and quality. It also addresses contaminants, hygienic practices, labeling, additives, inspection and certification, nutrition and residues of veterinary drugs and pesticides in food.
World Food Safety Day Manual mentioned these Key Messages.Download the manual for World Food Safety Day from here.
You can also read the Five Keys for Safer Aquaculture Products , Five Keys for Safer Food and the Five Keys for Growing Safer Fruits and Vegetables.
(Feature Image Source: Unilever Food Solutions)
