World Food Safety Day

• An estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses are reported annually
• About 420 000 people around the world die every year after eating contaminated food
• Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden
• Unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, disproportionally affecting vulnerable and marginalized people, especially women and children across the globe.

To draw the attention of all governments and policy makers and stakeholders, every year on the 7^th of June World Food Safety Day is observed. It aims to inspire action to prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations. This international day is an opportunity to strengthen efforts to ensure that the food we eat is safe, mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally. This day also contributes to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism, and sustainable development across the world.

What is safe food?

Food provides all the essential nutrients, carbohydrates, fats, and protein in our bodies to sustain growth. Safe food is not only what is served at the table but the entire process contributes to food safety. Food Safety starts from the farm, to manufacturing, transportation, packaging and storing.

Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers ad consumers. Along with strong food laws and regulations, it is also the responsibility of the individuals to ensure that the food is safe for them and their families.

How to ensure that your food is safe?

Though there are some common ways to ensure that your food remains safe by washing it thoroughly, storing it under correct temperature and keeping it free from bacteria that might lead to foodborne illnesses, yet we end up consuming food that might not be good for our body. Here are some simple ways to ensure that your food is safe and what you are consuming is healthy:

Wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water just before eating, cutting or cooking.

Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and countertops with a clean sponge and hot, soapy water after preparing each food item.

Read the nutrition label to understand the amount of fat, salt and sugar intake – limit your salt, sugar and fat intake as excessive use of it could increase the risk of non-communicable diseases or NCDs

Read the lables for fats and trans fats – In India, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has capped the amount of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022

World Health Day 2021

Every year April 7 marks the celebration of World Health Day. From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the day is aimed at creating health awareness on various critical issues. 

Over the past several years, Consumer VOICE has been relentlessly working on critical health areas – from harmful effects of tobacco consumption to health hazards related to transfats. 

With Covid-19 hitting us badly, it is important ’for us as consumers to take care of our health both as a curative measure and preventive measure’ as rightly pointed out by Mr Ashim Sanyal, Consumer VOICE.

This World Health Day therefore serves as a reminder for all of us to avoid unhealthy foods, foods that are high in sugar, salt and fats which are actually a major cause of non-communicable diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension have crept quietly in our lives and are here to stay. It is therefore imperative for us to know about the nutritional content of ultra-processed foods that are highly loaded with HSSF (High Salt Sugar Fat) components and have fewer foods contributing to a ‘balanced diet’.  This can be possible to a certain extent with Front of Pack Labeling. Globally many countries have already implemented the  Front of Pack Labeling  system and studies have proved that they are effective in the reduction of consumption of HSSF foods. consumers taste buds will also have to change but it’s better than suffering from non-communicable diseases than to indulge in such food habits. This article of Consumer VOICE COO is a reassertion of  FSSAI’s slogan “Thoda Kam” which should remind us that as consumers, we need to be a part of the harm reduction process as mere regulations will not solve the problem.