World Food Safety Day highlights importance of food safety for better health

The World Food Safety Day (WFSD), recently celebrated on June 7th, reached its fourth anniversary this year. The World Food Safety Day program is dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action to help prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks and improve the overall welfare of human health and sustainable economic growth.

The theme of this year is 'Safer Food, Better Health', which highlighted access to safe food essential for the health and well-being of people, animals, and the environment, worldwide.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Deputy Secretary, David Hazlehurst, said strong food safety standards are a key component of strong human health.

"Food safety saves lives,” Mr. Hazlehurst said.

"While there are lots of ways to ensure food safety, a key part is having sound food regulation and international food standards that facilitate safe food trade.

"The department plays a significant role in ensuring food is safe for consumers not just here in Australia but across the world.

"Given that Australia exports around 70 percent of its produce, it is important that we contribute strongly to the development of international food safety standards. That is why Australia is part of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, or Codex – the international food standards-setting body.

"Codex Australia works with stakeholders both here and internationally to contribute to consumer food safety by ensuring international food standards are based on sound scientific principles and support the export of our safe products to the world.

"Australia’s food safety standards are some of the highest in the world. We will continue to do our part in creating strong food safety systems and ensuring safe food both in Australia and around the world".

Did you know?

• An estimated 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420 000 die every year, resulting in the loss of 33 million healthy life years (DALYs).
• US$ 110 billion is lost each year in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries.
• Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 125 000 deaths every year.
• Foodborne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems and harming national economies, tourism, and trade.

Source: 

https://www.who.int/

https://www.awe.gov.au/about/news/world-food-safety-day-highlights-importance-food-standards-better-health

Article posted by: Food Safety Select Newsroom