The World Health Organisation started a campaign in 2019, known as “World Food Safety Day”, to highlight the importance of food safety and spread awareness to help prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks. The term “Food Safety” includes all practices in the food supply chain used to keep our food safe. A disruption in food safety leads to problems beyond human health, it affects tourism, agriculture, economic prosperity, and sustainable development.
This food safety day, let us understand the theme, “Food safety, everyone’s business”, with the help of 5 calls to action as outlined by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) which help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.
Ensure it’s safe:
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure the citizen’s safety, one of the ways to do this is by establishing appropriate laws and policies to guarantee and maintain a standard of safety.
Grow it safe:
Employing safe food handling practices is essential for any food producer as growing food has become harder and harder. It is essential to constantly evolve and adapt food practices as new technology, population booms, and changing demands create multiple loopholes in the food chain which lead to food safety outbreaks.
Keep it safe:
Consumer-facing businesses can ensure safety by storing food according to the recommended storage conditions, minimizing the risk of foodborne illnesses, and preventing wastage of food.
Check if it’s safe:
It is possible for minor food safety outbreaks despite foodservice organization’s attempts, so consumers must do their part. Awareness and practice of consumer food safety habits such as sanitizing surfaces, washing hands, keeping the appliances clean and thorough cooking of meat products ensure good health.
Team up for safety:
As the food industry is global, it is important for organizations within the foodservice industry to collaborate and combat any problems to ensure food safety and mutual growth.
By using these 5 calls to action, we can reduce the cases of foodborne diseases like typhoid, hepatitis A, cholera, etc. and also improve our economy and ensure sustainable growth.
Activities are undertaken in India to ensure food safety:
The need of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) registration number on food packages to be distributed, this ensures their safety standard.
Restaurants and hotels to display hygiene ratings as given by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).
Food Safety Mitra, a scheme to educate street food vendors on hygiene aspects and businesses to comply with standards.
