By Eden De Horta Ribeiro, Final Year Student, GLC Mumbai,
Editor ISLR
The third World Food Safety Day (WFSD) will be celebrated on 7 June 2021. It 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.
The slogan “Food safety is everyone’s business”, calls to action –
1. Ensure it’s safe
Governments must ensure safe and nutritious food for all.
2. Grow it safe
Agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices.
3. Keep it safe
Business operators must make sure food is safe.
4. Know what’s safe
Consumers need to learn about safe and healthy food.
5. Team up for food safety
Let’s work together for safe food and good health!
Food safety in the time of COVID-19
While COVID-19 has not been transmitted by food, the pandemic has sharpened the focus on food safety-related issues, such as hygiene, antimicrobial resistance, zoonotic diseases, climate change, food fraud and the potential benefits of digitalizing food systems. It has also identified weaknesses or vulnerabilities in food production and control systems. For the immediate future, minimizing disruptions in the food supply chains remains one of the highest priorities of all governments, as consumers must have reliable access to food.
A risk-based approach to food safety and to meeting food safety requirements can help keep global food supplies open and enable consumer access to food. Concerted efforts on food safety will help countries mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic and boost their resilience for the long term by facilitating and accelerating food and agricultural trade, helping to prevent the next zoonotic pandemic and transforming food systems.
We, as the youth of today, can learn about food safety and pass on the message that by changing simple day-to-day actions. We can avoid the perils of foodborne disease. To make it virtual – share educational materials, such as the WHO Five Keys to Safer Food, beforehand and move the discussion online.
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