World Food Safety Day 2023: World Food Safety Day is an international observance held every year on June 7th. The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of safe food and promote food safety across the world.
World Food Safety Day 2023
World Food Safety Day 2023: 7 June 2023
World Food Safety Day 2023 will be observed on 7th June 2023. World Food Safety Day 2023 presents an opportunity to highlight the importance of safe food and encourage individuals, organizations, and governments to take proactive steps to ensure food safety.
World Food Safety Day Theme 2023
World Food Safety Day Theme 2023: ‘Food standard saves lives’
The theme for the 2023 World Food Safety Day is ‘Food standard saves lives’. This theme emphasizes the need for a collective effort to ensure food safety and highlights the crucial role that everyone can play in achieving this goal.
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World Food Safety Day Theme 2023 also presents an opportunity to highlight the impact of unsafe food on the environment. Unsustainable agricultural practices, including the use of pesticides and fertilizers, can contaminate soil and water sources and lead to the production of unsafe food. Additionally, food waste contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. By promoting sustainable food production practices and reducing food waste, we can ensure that our food is safe and minimize the impact on the environment.
Importance of Food Safety
Food safety is a crucial aspect of public health as it is directly linked to the well-being of individuals and communities. Unsafe food can cause a range of illnesses, from mild to severe, and can even be fatal in some cases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses are reported globally every year, and 420,000 people die as a result. Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to foodborne illnesses, with over 125,000 deaths reported every year.
Ways to ensure food safety
One of the primary ways to ensure food safety is by raising awareness about the causes of foodborne illnesses and the measures that can be taken to prevent them. The WHO has identified five keys to safer food that can help individuals and communities to ensure that the food they consume is safe:
- Keep clean: Wash hands and surfaces often to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.
- Separate raw and cooked: Separate raw meat, poultry, and seafood from cooked and ready-to-eat foods to avoid cross-contamination.
- Cook thoroughly: Cook foods to a safe temperature to kill any harmful bacteria.
- Keep food at safe temperatures: Refrigerate perishable foods promptly and keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
- Use safe water and raw materials: Use safe water and raw materials to prevent contamination.
World Food Safety Day History
World Food Safety Day was first observed on June 7th, 2019, following the adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018. The resolution was sponsored by the governments of Costa Rica and the United States and was co-sponsored by over 70 other countries. The resolution recognized the need to raise awareness about the importance of safe food and to promote food safety across the world.
World Food Safety Day 2023 Way forward
In addition to these measures, governments and regulatory bodies also play a crucial role in ensuring food safety. They are responsible for setting and enforcing food safety standards, monitoring the food supply chain, and investigating foodborne illness outbreaks. It is essential for governments to work with food producers, processors, and retailers to ensure that the food supply chain is safe and that consumers have access to safe and nutritious food.
In conclusion, World Food Safety Day 2023 serves as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in ensuring safe and nutritious food. From individuals to governments and regulatory bodies, we must work together to promote food safety and prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses. By raising awareness about safe food practices and promoting sustainable food production, we can ensure that our food is safe and healthy, today and for generations to come.