Today is World Food Safety Day 2022, every year on June 7, this day is commemorated, with the goal of raising awareness about foodborne illnesses and enhancing human health via mindful eating. World Food Safety Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2018 to raise awareness about this critical subject.
The theme for World Food Safety Day 2022 is ‘Safer food, better health’. The theme was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) and underlines the fact that safer food is the key to better human health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in conjunction with member governments and other stakeholders, are coordinating the commemoration around the world. “Safer food, greater health” is this year’s theme, which strives to emphasise the importance of safe, nutritious food in maintaining human health and well-being.
Food safety is essential for ensuring proper human health, economic prosperity, sustainable development, and growth in agriculture and tourism as well. It helps in keeping diseases and infectious illnesses, which are caused by unhygienic food, at bay. The day is celebrated to draw attention to such issues and mobilise people and authorities to take adequate steps to ensure food safety.
World Food Safety Day 2022 – 5 things you need to be aware of
- Be aware of the safety of our food is extremely important so that we stay safe and healthy.
- Contamination and adulteration in food is something that we read and forget. So, stay aware
- Drinking and eating from places that promise good hygiene will always keep you on the safer side.
- Keeping a check on food waste is the best way of saving money
- Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine is your food
According to the United Nations, around 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses are reported every year which makes unsafe food one of the most concerning threats for human health. Diseases arising from unhygienic food affect the most vulnerable people and marginalised sections of society, especially children, women, and victims of conflicts.
These illnesses are caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria present in contaminated food and water that are often not visible to the plain eye. Food safety becomes important to ensure that food stays safe and hygienic at every stage of the food chain. From harvesting and processing to storage and distribution, food must remain safe before it reaches the consumer.
The 2019 World Bank report on the economic burden of foodborne diseases indicated that the total productivity loss associated with foodborne disease in low- and middle-income countries was estimated at US$ 95.2 billion per year, and the annual cost of treating foodborne illnesses is estimated at US$ 15 billion.
World Food Safety Day 2022: Let us make the world safer, healthier .
Safe food can help improve:
🍎 health & nutrition,
📚 school attendance,
💰 earning potential.
