World Food Safety Day 2024: 7 June
World Food Safety Day is observed every year on 7th June. The purpose of celebrating it is to raise awareness about the importance of safe food.
Food is a fundamental aspect of our daily lives, providing sustenance and nutrition for our bodies. So we need to make sure that the food we consume is safe? Is it free from contaminants, and does it not pose any health risk?
Food standards are important to avoid foodborne diseases because they help ensure that food is safe to eat. They set requirements for the production, processing and handling of food. These requirements help prevent contamination of food with harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites.
In this article, we will learn about the importance, history and all the themes set till date of Food Safety Day.
What is foodborne illness?
Foodborne disease is a major public health problem, affecting millions of people worldwide each year. The common symptoms of this disease are varied, including vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. In severe cases of foodborne illness, the patient may even die.
Significance of World food Safety Day
Foodborne illnesses affect millions of people worldwide, leading to serious health consequences. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 600 million people become ill each year due to contaminated food, of which 420,000 die. From these figures it can be estimated that how important is the need for food safety measures to protect public health.
World Food Safety Day serves as a rallying call for governments, organizations and individuals to prioritize food safety throughout the foodchain, from production to consumption. It promotes better practices in food handling, storage and preparation, with the aim of preventing foodborne diseases, reducing waste and promoting sustainable food systems.
Theme of World Food Safety Day 2024
World Food Safety Day is celebrated every year under a specific theme to highlight various aspects of food safety. Theme of World Food Safety Day 2024 is “Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected”. These themes provide a framework to address specific challenges and encourage action and collaboration.
Here are the last 6 years’ themes for This Day:
- 2023: The theme for this year’s World Food Safety Day is “Food Standards Save Lives.”
- 2022: “Safe Food, Better Health”. This theme promotes better health through safe food.
- 2021: “Safe Food Today for a Healthy Tomorrow”. The theme highlighted the importance of sustainable food systems in ensuring food safety. This underscored the need for resilient and robust food production, processing, distribution and consumption systems.
- 2020: “Food Safety, Everyone’s Business”. The theme builds on last year’s (2019) theme but the 2020 campaign aims to inspire action to prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks. It emphasized the role of individuals and communities in promoting safe food practices.
- 2019: “Food Safety, Everyone’s Business”. The theme emphasized the responsibility of governments, producers and consumers to ensure food safety throughout the food chain. It stressed the need for collaboration and engagement to effectively address foodborne risks.
History of World Food Safety Day
In December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 7 as World Food Safety Day. The proposal to celebrate this day was jointly introduced by the WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The day underscores the commitment of these organizations to prioritize food safety and raise awareness of its importance globally.
Conclusion
World Food Safety Day serves as a powerful platform to advocate for better food safety practices and raise awareness of healthy eating around the world. By making food safety a priority, we protect public health, reduce foodborne illness and contribute to building sustainable food systems. As good citizens, we can do our part by adopting safe food handling and preparation practices, supporting local producers, and staying informed about food safety guidelines.
Click here to read this article in Hindi.
