WFSD 2021 theme is “Safe Food Today for a Healthy Tomorrow”
World Food Safety Day 2021 stresses that production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long-term benefits for people, the planet and the economy. Recognizing the systemic connections between the health of people, animals, plants, the environment and the economy will help us meet the needs of the future.
Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers. Everyone has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy. Through the World Food Safety Day, WHO works to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally. Food safety is everyone’s business.
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Did you know?
An estimated 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420 000 die every year?
Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances, causes more than 200 diseases – ranging from diarrhoea to cancers?
US$110 billion is lost each year in productivity and medical expenses resulting from unsafe food in low- and middle-income countries?
Children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 125 000 deaths every year?
Diarrhoeal diseases are the most common illnesses resulting from the consumption of contaminated food, causing 550 million people to fall ill and 230 000 deaths every year?
Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, elderly and the sick?
Foodborne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems, and harming national economies, tourism and trade?
Food Safety from “farm to fork” is critical to ensure safe food for all. Aspects addressed this year:
- Ensure it’s safe – governments must ensure safe and nutritious food for all
- Grow it safe – agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices
- Keep it safe – business operators must make sure food is safe
- Eat it safe – all consumers have the right to safe and nutritious food and have the power to drive change
- Team up for safety – food safety is a shared responsibility
