Food safety is a global concern that covers a variety of different areas of everyday life. Food Safety refers to handling, preparing and storing food in a way to best reduce the risk of individuals becoming sick from food-borne illnesses. We have become so busy in our everyday life to notice about food safety that we often take it for granted. Which has led to increase in number of people diagnosing with food-borne illness globally. World Food Safety Day was first celebrated on June 7, 2019. Hence, this is the second year of observance of World Food Safety Day, 7 June 2020.
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History of World Food Safety Day
It all began at the 39th session of Codex Alimentarius Commission held in 2016, a proposal to promote a particular day to celebrate Food Safety within the framework of the United Nations was agreed. Later in the 40th Session of the FAO Conference held in July 2017, a resolution in support of World Food Safety Day was adopted and the World Health Organization expressed their support in December 2017. A proposal to establish a particular day for Food Safety went before the Second Committee of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. Following their October/November 2018 discussion, it was approved and went before the General Assembly for final adoption. Then on 20 December 2018 the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 73/250 announcing to celebrate every 7th June as World Food Safety Day. The first World Food Safety Day was celebrated on June 7, 2019.
Theme for World Food Safety Day 2020
The theme for the World Food Safety Day celebrated on 2019 was “Food safety, everyone’s business”. Under this theme, WHO in collaboration with United Nation’s FAO (FOOD and Agricultural Organization) will promote global food safety awareness and call upon countries and decision makers, the private sector, civil society, UN organizations and the general public to take action.
Calls to action for Safe Food
Following are the actions initiated by WHO’s Food Safety Day campaign to promote safe food globally-
- Ensure it’s safe – Government must ensure safe and nutritious food for all
- Grow it safe – Agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices
- Keep it safe – Business operators must make sure food is safe
- Eat it safe- All consumers have a right to safe, healthy and nutritious food
- Team up for safety – Food Safety is a shared responsibility.
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Importance of World Food Safety Day 2020
Unsafe or Unhygienic food can cause food borne illness causing hazardous effect on human health. Access to safe food is each and every individual’s right. Thus, Food safety is everybody’s responsibility, whether it is growing, exporting, storing, selling, serving or consuming food. Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers. Thus everyone must take part in this initiation by WHO by promoting awareness and urging action by highlighting what everyone can do to ensure food safety. Every single individual must ensure the safety of food from farm to dinner table.
By celebrating this day, WHO pursues its efforts to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of food-borne diseases globally. An estimated three million people around the world die every year from food and waterborne in developed and developing countries. Around 600 million cases of food-borne illnesses annually have made United Nations to take a step towards food safety, linking together many of the Sustainable Development Goals, like eradicating hunger, preventing diseases, promoting a fair trade and improving sustainable agriculture.
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World Food Safety Day 2020- How can you celebrate?
This Year due to outbreak of COVID – 19 pandemic it’s been decided to celebrate World Food Safety Day 2020 virtually. World Food Safety Day will be celebrated online by bringing people together online, you can showcase your work, promote food safety locally and internationally, and learn from others as they interact with your content and share their stories. We have mentioned below how you can take part or celebrate Virtually-
- Conducting Online workshops or webinars.
- Online panel- Conducting discussion by holding an online panel with guest experts.
- Through Social media –Like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram live. You can send photos to World-Food-Safety-Day@fao.org or tag @WHO @FAO on social media and @FAOWHOCodex, using the hashtag #WorldFoodSafetyDay
- By organizing creative events.
- Interviews – Interview someone who has a in-depth knowledge about food safety or someone who practice food safety measures well.
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