UN World Food Safety Day (WFSD)
Author: World Health Organization (WHO)
Published: 2019/06/07 - Updated: 2024/08/09
Publication Type: Awareness, Appreciation
Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Topic: Disability Awareness - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: United Nations Global World Food Safety Awareness Day occurs annually on 7th June and aims to strengthen efforts to ensure food we eat is safe. Every year, nearly one in ten people in the world (an estimated 600 million people) fall ill and 420,000 die after eating food contaminated by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances.
Introduction
The first ever celebration of the United Nations World Food Safety Day, to be marked globally on 7 June, aims to strengthen efforts to ensure that the food we eat is safe.
Main Item
Every year, nearly one in ten people in the world (an estimated 600 million people) 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.
Food safety contributes to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. 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.
"Whether you are a farmer, farm supplier, food processor, transporter, marketer or consumer, food safety is your business," FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva said. "There is no food security without food safety," he said.
"Unsafe food kills an estimated 420,000 people every year. These deaths are entirely preventable," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "World Food Safety Day is a unique opportunity to raise awareness about the dangers of unsafe food with governments, producers, handlers and consumers. From farm to plate, we all have a role to play in making food safe."
Investing in sustainable food systems pays off FAO and WHO underline the importance of everyone's access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food, and that safe food is critical to promoting health and ending hunger, two of the primary aims of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Safe food allows for suitable intake of nutrients and contributes to a healthy life. Safe food production improves sustainability by enabling market access and productivity, which drives economic development and poverty alleviation, especially in rural areas.
Investment in consumer food safety education has the potential to reduce foodborne disease and return savings of up to $10 for each dollar invested. Get involved in World Food Safety Day Activities around the world for World Food Safety Day aim to inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne health risks. The right actions along the food supply chain, from farmers to consumers, as well as good governance and regulations, are essential to food safety.
FAO and WHO have created a new guide to show how everyone can get involved. The guide includes five steps to make a sustained difference to food safety:
- Grow it safe. Agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices.
- Ensure it's safe. Governments must ensure safe and nutritious food for all.
- Keep it safe. Business operators must make sure food is safely transported, stored and prepared.
- Check it's safe. Consumers need access to timely, clear and reliable information about the nutritional and disease risks associated with their food choices.
- Team up for safety. Governments, regional economic bodies, UN organizations, development agencies, trade organizations, consumer and producer groups, academic and research institutions and private sector entities must work together on food safety issues.
Starting in 2019, every 7 June will be a time to highlight the benefits of safe food. World Food Safety Day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018. The process was initiated in 2016 by Costa Rica through the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which is managed by FAO and WHO.
Food Safety Facts
- Children aged under 5 carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 125 000 deaths every year.
- The value of trade in food is US$ 1.6 trillion, which is approximately 10% of total annual trade globally.
- Foodborne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems and harming national economies, tourism and trade.
- An estimated 600 million people - almost 1 in 10 people in the world - fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420 000 die every year.
- Foodborne illnesses are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water.
- Recent estimates indicate that the impact of unsafe food costs low- and middle-income economies around US$ 95 billion in lost productivity each year.
- Improving hygiene practices in the food and agricultural sectors helps to reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance along the food chain and in the environment.
Related Information
- Freezer Storage Times for Frozen and Refrigerated Food: Freezer storage chart for preventing refrigerated and frozen foods from spoiling or becoming unsafe to eat.
- Food Safety As Part of a Healthy Eating Plan: Dietary Guidelines emphasis on importance of food safety and role individuals in keeping foodborne illness out of homes.
- Food Storage Duration Guide: Refrigerated, Frozen, and Pantry Produce: Comprehensive guide detailing recommended storage durations for food items, including frozen goods, refrigerated products, packaged foods, and common household staples.
- List of Vegetables That Can Be Frozen: Table shows a list of vegetables that you can freeze and includes the recommended maximum freezer times for veggies.
- Rainwater Worldwide Now Unsafe to Drink Due to PFAS: From Antarctica to the Tibetan Plateau rainwater is now unsafe to drink due to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
- How to Get Rid of Refrigerator and Freezer Odors: Tips and information on getting rid of fridge and freezer smells and how to dispose of old refrigerator units.
- Cooking Barbecue Food - Safety Tips: Barbecue cooking safety tips to avoid foodborne illness caused by bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella.
- Safety Tips When Microwaving Food: Information and tips on the importance of food safety while using microwave ovens to cook and defrost food.
Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by World Health Organization (WHO) and published on 2019/06/07, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, World Health Organization (WHO) can be contacted at who.int NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.