Messages in various languages are shared here in video and audio links by the IUFoST Working Group on Food Safety Communications and special friends on this 4th World Food Safety Day with its theme- Safer Food, better health. World Food Safety Day 2022: IUFoST Statement. Please help us to spread the word!
Presented by the IUFoST Working Group on Food Safety Communications
Chair: Professor Carol Wallace (UK)
Members: Dr Ratih Dewanti-Hariyadi (Indonesia)
Dr. Afam Jideani (South Africa)
Dr. César Ozuna (Mexico)
Dr. Jay Kant Yadav (India)
and special contributors Amine Kassouf (GFORSS - Lebanon) and Victoria Jideani.
World Food Safety Day 2022: IUFoST Statement
June 7th, 2022 will be the fourth World Food Safety Day and this year the theme is ‘Safer food, better health’. Facilitated by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, this is an action-oriented campaign to promote global food safety awareness and call upon countries and decision makers, the global food supply chain and the general public to take action to protect consumers, working together for safe food and good health. The International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) is proud to support these calls to action.
Food safety is a shared responsibility of governments, food supply chain actors, educational institutions and consumers – it is everyone’s business to ensure safe food. Sustainable development goal 2, Zero Hunger, aims to achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. But there can be no food security without food safety: if it is not safe, then it is not food. Even today, almost one in ten people in the world fall ill after eating contaminated food. That’s a public health burden comparable with that of malaria or HIV AIDS.
Food safety is based on science. Food scientists, microbiologists, toxicologists and other experts advise food businesses on the growing, production, processing, handling and preparation steps that are needed to make food safe. When safe practices are applied at all stages across the food chain, including in the home, food is safe. As a global Union of Food Science and Technology, IUFoST affiliates and members play major roles in safe food supply chains around the world.
Food safety has a direct impact on health. Safe food allows for the uptake of nutrients needed for active and healthy lives and promotes human development. Most foodborne disease is preventable with proper education and safe food handling. IUFoST promotes food science and food safety education globally: the IUFoST Food Safety Curricula Initiative is harnessing the power of education to achieve global food safety through Undergraduate and Masters leadership programmes.
Strengthening collaboration improves food safety. IUFoST fosters collaboration to strengthen food science and technology’s role in helping secure the world’s food supply and eliminate world hunger, directly supporting safe food for better health. Throughout the year IUFoST committees, working groups and volunteers work together to make a difference in the food supply chain. Over the last year this has included bringing together distinguished panels of expert global speakers for a United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021 Side Event on Global Food Systems Governance – the Role of Food Science and Technology and a joint IUFoST and International Union for Nutritional Sciences online conference on the Power of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition for Sustainable Planet Health. These efforts on food safety and supply chain resilience aimed to illuminate the topics and facilitate discussion, teaming up for food safety and working together for safe food and good health.
Everyone is a risk manager. Everyone evaluates food safety risks as part of their daily activities – basing choices and food handling on the WHO 5 keys to safer food helps to minimise risks by:
- Using safe water and ingredients
- Keeping hands, utensils and surfaces clean
- Cooking food thoroughly
- Keeping food at safe temperatures
- Separating raw from cooked food
Investing in food safety today will reap future rewards. Good practices along the food supply chain not only ensure food safety but can improve sustainability and minimize environmental damage. Many good hygiene practices used in food safety also helped to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Let’s focus on improving food safety for the future. Let’s start creating lasting change!
