A wide range of events, speeches and webinars were held last week to mark World Food Safety Day. Below, Food Safety News rounds up the best events marking the occasion.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that an average of 1.6 million people become sick each day as a result of consuming unsafe food.
The theme of World Food Safety Day, 7 June, was “Preparing for the Unexpected”. The date coincided with the 20th anniversary of the founding of the FAO-WHO International Food Safety Authority Network (INFOSAN).
“Food safety risks know no borders. In an interconnected global food supply, risks from unsafe food can quickly escalate from a local problem to an international emergency,” said Francesco Branca, WHO Director-General for Nutrition and Food Safety.
“This theme highlights the importance of preparedness to prevent food safety incidents from escalating into emergencies – emphasizing that emergencies require careful planning, preparation and rapid action. Humanitarian crises are occurring in many parts of the world, including the Gaza Strip, Ukraine and Sudan, increasing food insecurity and undermining food security. Our global food system is only as strong as its weakest link.”
Regional perspective
Southeast Asia has the second-highest health burden from consuming contaminated food, with an estimated 150 million people falling ill and 175,000 dying each year.
Saima Wazed, WHO regional director for South-East Asia, said everyone is a risk manager.
“We all assess food safety risks as part of the choices we make every day. These choices are made by individuals and collectively by families, communities, businesses and governments. Let us commit to doing our part to raise awareness and drive action towards preventing, detecting and controlling foodborne risks,” she said.
“Food safety incidents can range from minor events such as a power outage at home, food poisoning at a local restaurant, a manufacturer voluntarily recalling a contaminated product, an outbreak caused by an imported product, or a natural disaster, to major international crises.”
According to WHO estimates published in 2015, 100 million people living in the Eastern Mediterranean region suffer from foodborne illnesses each year, including 32 million children under the age of five.
Food-related diarrheal diseases caused by pathogens account for 70% of the disease burden, with approximately 37,000 people dying annually in the region from eating unsafe food.
Public health challenges arise from climate change-related events such as heatwaves, droughts and floods, as well as humanitarian crises, other emergencies and political instability.
Workshop in Kyrgyzstan
A workshop was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on World Food Safety Day to raise awareness about proper food safety and management.
The speaker introduced the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and discussed risk identification and monitoring.
“Fortunately, food poisoning can be prevented by taking safety measures. But keeping food safe is not always easy, as many people are involved in the food supply,” said Almaz Kadiraliev of the Kyrgyz University of Economics.
The event was organised as part of a Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) project funded by the Standards, Trade and Development Organisation (STDF).
“Food safety must be a priority every time a meal, snack or dish is prepared, when food is grown, produced or transported. The more people know about food safety, the better we can act to keep our food safe,” said FAO food safety expert Vermette Djurpova.
Food safety at events
FAO Regional Director for the Caribbean, Renata Clark, and CARPHA Director, Dr Lisa Indahl, highlighted the potentially “devastating” reputational impact if food poisoning reports become more frequent in the region, which is currently hosting the Cricket World Cup.
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) helped deliver food safety training to approximately 900 vendors from the six Caribbean host countries who sell food in and around the cricket grounds, as well as approximately 400 people from the hospitality industry.
“Many Caribbean countries have shown vigilance and proactivity in identifying potential food safety violations given the large crowds that will be attending the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup events. With the number of street food vendors and customers expected to increase significantly, ministries of health and food safety authorities have emphasized updating food safety training for vendors and raising food safety awareness among consumers,” said Clarke and Inder.
“Governments continually review and update food standards to ensure an acceptable level of public health protection in light of new and emerging information. They also regularly update processes and regulations to ensure the food industry meets the standards expected of them. In the spirit of continuous improvement, several Caribbean countries have undergone rigorous assessments of their food safety and quality control systems over the past two years. Food safety is too important to let your guard down.”
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