200 diseases caused by eating contaminated food
Food Safety Day commemorated
The FAO has warned that hundreds of diseases, from diarrhoea to cancer, can be caused by people consuming food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals.
More than 1 in 10 people fall sick each year from contaminated food and an estimated 420 000 people die.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), food standards help to ensure that what we eat is safe.
This year's World Food Safety Day, organised by the FAO and the World Health Organisation, took place on 7 June to draw attention to food standards.
Over 200 diseases, from diarrhoea to cancer, are caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals.
Food standards
The FAO said food standards save lives by playing a crucial role in preventing foodborne illnesses and that the young and the vulnerable are disproportionately affected by the different foodborne diseases, most of which are preventable.
"We need a common understanding of the identity, quality and safety of our food," said FAO director-general Qu Dongyu.
He said the FAO recognises the crucial role of food standards to ensure food safety, to help protect human health, and to facilitate fair practices in food trade, especially as food trade continues to grow.
"Food can only be safe if every person involved in its production, distribution and preparation ensures its safety."
Work together
WHO called for action from various sectors, including policymakers, who are urged to establish robust national food safety systems that comply with established standards.
Food businesses are encouraged to work with their employees, suppliers and other stakeholders to develop "a food safety culture", while educational institutions and workplaces should promote safe food handling.
Consumers are also asked to do their part, for example, by practising safe food handling at home and following WHO recommendations, which include washing hands before preparing meals and using separate equipment and utensils, such as knives and cutting boards, when handling raw foods.
Toolbox
Meanwhile, FAO will launch a website to help the food sector adhere to international food hygiene standards.
Described as a "toolbox", the site aims to both protect consumer health and promote fair practices in the food trade.
Special focus has been given to small businesses and farmers in developing countries, as the website can be accessed on handheld mobile devices, which are far more widespread in these nations than laptops or other computers.
The website includes guides to personal hygiene, such as how to educate visitors entering a food production site, the correct procedure and frequency for hand washing, and suggestions for appropriate clothing.
World Food Safety Day has been celebrated annually by the United Nations since 2019 and aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, and sustainable development.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), food standards help to ensure that what we eat is safe.
This year's World Food Safety Day, organised by the FAO and the World Health Organisation, took place on 7 June to draw attention to food standards.
Over 200 diseases, from diarrhoea to cancer, are caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals.
Food standards
The FAO said food standards save lives by playing a crucial role in preventing foodborne illnesses and that the young and the vulnerable are disproportionately affected by the different foodborne diseases, most of which are preventable.
"We need a common understanding of the identity, quality and safety of our food," said FAO director-general Qu Dongyu.
He said the FAO recognises the crucial role of food standards to ensure food safety, to help protect human health, and to facilitate fair practices in food trade, especially as food trade continues to grow.
"Food can only be safe if every person involved in its production, distribution and preparation ensures its safety."
Work together
WHO called for action from various sectors, including policymakers, who are urged to establish robust national food safety systems that comply with established standards.
Food businesses are encouraged to work with their employees, suppliers and other stakeholders to develop "a food safety culture", while educational institutions and workplaces should promote safe food handling.
Consumers are also asked to do their part, for example, by practising safe food handling at home and following WHO recommendations, which include washing hands before preparing meals and using separate equipment and utensils, such as knives and cutting boards, when handling raw foods.
Toolbox
Meanwhile, FAO will launch a website to help the food sector adhere to international food hygiene standards.
Described as a "toolbox", the site aims to both protect consumer health and promote fair practices in the food trade.
Special focus has been given to small businesses and farmers in developing countries, as the website can be accessed on handheld mobile devices, which are far more widespread in these nations than laptops or other computers.
The website includes guides to personal hygiene, such as how to educate visitors entering a food production site, the correct procedure and frequency for hand washing, and suggestions for appropriate clothing.
World Food Safety Day has been celebrated annually by the United Nations since 2019 and aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, and sustainable development.
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