WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY

One in 10 people worldwide fall ill from eating contaminated food each year. Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children under five and poor populations, are the most exposed and at greatest risk of foodborne disease. Unsafe food adversely affects people's health and well-being, and also has negative economic consequences for individuals and businesses. Unsafe food costs low- and middle- income countries USD 110 billion each year in productivity and medical expenses.

Promoting food safety makes a difference. Food standards is a mechanism for promoting food safety and quality among general public. Food standards ensure established food safety practices are followed. They provide guidance on hygienic food handling for farmers and processors. They define the maximum levels of additives, contaminants, residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs that can safely be consumed by all. Furthermore, standards specify how the food should be measured, packaged and transported to keep it safe. With the application of standards on things like nutrition and allergen labelling, consumers can know quality of the food. Most governments and organizations adopt and enforce food standards that are based on scientific risk assessments, covering hazards that are biological, chemical and physical in nature.

The World Food Safety Day 2023 is an excellent opportunity to draw attention and mobilize action to promote implementation of strong food standards in India to protect consumer health and ensure fair practices in the food trade.