Every year, the June 7ththe world celebrates the World Food Safety Dayestablished in 2018 by the United Nations on the initiative of the FAO and the World Health Organization.
The purpose of this anniversary is to increase global awareness on the importance of the safety of the food that we consume every day. Food safety, in this context, does not simply refer to access to food-which is another dimension of the problem-but concerns the hygienic-sanitary quality of food, or the guarantee that they are without risks for human health.
The dangers can derive from biological, chemical or physical contaminations, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, heavy metals, pesticides or toxic substances.
Every year, according to theWHOabout 600 million people In the world they get sick due to contaminated foods and over 400,000 lose their lives, with children under five who represent a particularly vulnerable band.
World Food Safety Day therefore serves to raise awareness of all the actors of the food supply chain, from agricultural producers to transformation companies, from institutions to end consumers, on the importance of guaranteeing safe foods.
It is an opportunity to promote good practices, share information, strengthen control systems, encourage the adoption of technologies for monitoring and traceability of food and support the adoption of common international regulations.
In a globalized world where foods travel from one continent to another it is essential that the countries adopt shared safety standard, such as those of the Codex Alimentarius which for over 30 years said important guidelines concerning correct diet and food production.
The European Union represents one of the most advanced models in this area, with very severe regulations and with theEfsa – the European Food Safety Authority – which plays a central role in the scientific assessment of risks and in the protection of consumers. Italy, in particular, stands out for the quality and safety of its food products, thanks to an efficient network of controls and a productive tradition that pays great attention to quality and safeguarding health.
However, the growing import of foods from non-EU countries with less rigorous standards raises concerns, as reported by associations such as Coldiretti, who ask for greater transparency, obligation to label the origin and the principle of reciprocity in commercial rules.
World Food Safety Day therefore has a fundamental educational, regulatory and social function.
It is an invitation to all – governments, industries, scientists, consumers – to do their part to ensure that the food is safe, accessible and quality,
Every day and everywhere.
Because food safety is not an option, but a fundamental right of all humanity.