World Food Day: WHO Tasks Govt On Food Safety Policies

As the United Nations marked the fourth global World Food Safety Day yesterday, the World Health Organisation has called on various governments to evolve policies that will encourage food safety.
In a statement to mark the 20220 World Food Days WHO drew attention on the need to mobilise action to prevent, detect and manage food borne risks and improve human health.
This year’s World Food Safety Day has as its theme, “Safer Food, better Health.”
The body said safe food is essential to human health and well-being and is one of the most critical guarantors for good health.
It listed the benefits of safe food to include improved nutrition and reduced absenteeism in schools and in the workplace.
According to WHO, food borne diseases affect one in 10 people worldwide each year. There are over 200 of these diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers.
The United Nations General Assembly established World Food Safety Day in 2018 to raise awareness on this important issue.
WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with member states and other stakeholders.
WHO therefore implored players in the agro sectors to compel policymakers on the need to support measures that would strengthen national food safety systems and ensure they comply with food safety standards, as well as engage in multi-sectoral collaboration at the local, national, regional and global levels.
It insisted that food businesses must comply with international food standards and engage employees, suppliers and other stakeholders to grow and develop a food safety culture.

By: Kevin Nengia