WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY – June 07th – The UN proclaims World Food Safety Day! – On a day 20/12/2018 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a World Food Safety Day. Starting in 2019, every 7 June will be a time to celebrate the myriad benefits of safe food.
“World Food Safety Day will be a chance for everyone to take a moment to think about something we often take for granted: food safety”, said Codex Secretary Tom Heilandt. “Thanks to the widespread efforts of Codex Members and Observers, the international community will speak with one voice on 7 June to promote awareness and inspire actions for safer food”, he said.
Unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, disproportionally affecting vulnerable and marginalized people, especially women and children, populations affected by conflict and migrants. It also damages global trade leading to further food waste, which can no longer be tolerated in a world where many still suffer from hunger. The new annual observance, established thanks to concerted efforts led by Costa Rica, will draw attention and direct efforts to stopping the roughly 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses that occur annually.
Establishing a World Food Safety Day (7 June) will draw global attention to the health consequences of unsafe food:
• More than 200 diseases are spread through food,
• 1 in every 10 people suffer from contaminated food every year and around 420 000 die; 125 000 are children under five years old
• Foodborne diseases affect vulnerable people more than other groups,
• The spread of threats such as antimicrobial resistance.
Let’s make it happen!!!
Having a World Food Safety Day would promote awareness andinspire actions for safer food on a healthier planet.
Rusmir Goletić, DVM,
Institute for Health and Safety of Food Zenica