An estimated 600 million or almost 1 in 10 people worldwide fall ill after eating contaminated food; 420,000 die every year
Food standards save lives by playing a crucial role in preventing food-borne illnesses, United Nations bodies Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) said on the fifth edition of World Food Safety Day June 7, 2023.
Food safety, nutrition and food security are inextricably linked, the agencies said while releasing A Guide to World Food Safety Day 2023.
Read more: Boost indigenous millet recipes over packaged products
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.
The young and the vulnerable are disproportionately affected by the 200 different foodborne diseases that result from unsafe food, most of which are preventable. Children under five years of age carry 40 per cent of the foodborne disease burden, with 125,000 deaths every year.
Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances causes more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers, according to the WHO. It also creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, elderly and the sick.
Foodborne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining healthcare systems and harming national economies, tourism and trade. US$ 110 billion is lost each year in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries.
“We need a common understanding on the identity, quality, and safety of our food. The FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission has been building such a food code,” Director-General of FAO QU Dongyu said.
Read more: DNA tests for identifying beef: Should we shift our focus to meat safety instead?
Food can only be safe if every person involved in its production, distribution and preparation ensures its safety, he added.
The Codex Alimentarius has an impact on everyone, from consumers, food producers and processors to national food control agencies. Codex is also the World Trade Organization’s benchmark standard for food safety. It has been 60 years since the Codex was launched.
Food standards are a way of ensuring safety and quality, the latest guide said. Codex standards are at the heart of food safety.
“Each year the ‘food code’ grows — new standards are introduced and existing standards are updated when new data becomes available. In 2023, as Codex turns 60, we celebrate food standards for defining the path to safe food for everyone everywhere,” it further said.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances causes more than 200 diseases. Photo: iStock.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderatorтАЩs approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the тАШLettersтАЩ section of the Down To Earth print edition.