GENEVA, June 7th – As today marks World Food Safety Day, the World Health Organization is calling on everyone, from producers to consumers, to keep these resources free from contamination and save lives.
“Food safety is everyone’s business” is the motto of this celebration, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of prevention, detection and risk management through food safety and to encourage debates, solutions and opportunities to improve human health, trade, agriculture and of sustainability to promote development.
According to experts, 600 million people contract the 200 different types of food-borne diseases every year, and those most affected are vulnerable and marginalized populations, particularly women, children and affected communities. due to conflict and migration.
It is estimated that 420,000 people die every year worldwide as a result of eating contaminated food.
The theme of this year 2023 is “Food standards save lives” and offers farmers and processors guidance on the hygienic handling of food.
Among other things, they also specify the maximum amounts of additives and pollutants that may be safely consumed.
Governments, organizations and regional or intergovernmental bodies are responsible for setting these standards.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, is one of the bodies responsible for setting international safety and quality standards.
Food safety is defined as the absence of harmful elements in food, whether biological, chemical or physical, that ensure safe human consumption without any risk to health.
It includes aspects such as hygiene in production, processing, storage and distribution, as well as control of the supply chain and implementation of good handling practices.
This also includes complying with regulations and food safety standards set by the competent authorities at national and international level.