VIDEO: This Friday is the first-ever World Food Safety Day

"There are about 600 million cases of food-borne diseases annually."

June 5, 2019

Felicia Nkhwashu 1 minute read

Photo for illustration only. Photo: Felicia Nkhwashu

Almost one in 10 people in the world fall ill after eating contaminated food each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

This comes down to about 600 million cases of food-borne diseases.

“Children under five years of age carry 40% of the food-borne disease burden with 125 000 deaths every year,” the organisation said.

The WHO made these statistics available as it announced the first-ever World Food Safety Day, which will be celebrated this Friday.

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The day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018.

“It will be celebrated under the theme ‘Food Safety, everyone’s business’.

“WHO, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is pleased to facilitate member states’ efforts to celebrate the World Food Safety Day this year and in coming years,” it said.

They further said access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health.

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“Food-borne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems and harming national economies, tourism and trade,” it said.

Food safety is key to achieving several UN sustainable development goals and is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers.

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“Everybody has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and will not cause damage to our health.

“Through the World Food Safety Day, WHO pursues its efforts to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of food-borne diseases globally,” it concluded.