Every 7th of June is recognized as World Food Safety Day, an observance jointly facilitated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) along with member states and other relevant organizations. It was first celebrated in 2019 to reinforce the commitment to augmenting food safety made at the Addis Ababa Conference and the Geneva Forum in 2019 under the project titled “The Future of Food Safety”.
The main objective of this day is to raise awareness and motivate actions to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks. This contributes to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism, and sustainable development. The theme for 2022 is ‘Safer Food, Better Health’.
The Urgency of Food Safety
The significance of food safety cannot be overstated, as approximately 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses occur annually. Unsafe food poses a threat to human health and economies, disproportionately impacting vulnerable and marginalized people such as women, children, populations in conflict zones and migrants.
An estimated 420,000 people globally die each year from consuming contaminated food, and children under five years old account for 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 125,000 deaths every year.
Global and National Initiatives for Food Safety
The global initiative for food safety includes the Codex Alimentarius or “Food Code”, adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The commission is an intergovernmental body jointly formed by the FAO and WHO with 189 member countries including India.
In India, the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) has been developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to measure the performance of states on five food safety parameters. These parameters are Human Resources and Institutional Arrangements, Compliance, Food Testing- Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training and Capacity Building, and Consumer Empowerment.
The Eat Right India Movement
The Eat Right India Movement is a government initiative aiming to transform the country’s food system to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians. This initiative aligns with the National Health Policy 2017 focusing on preventive and promotive healthcare and flagship programs such as Ayushman Bharat, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anemia Mukt Bharat and Swachh Bharat Mission.
Recognizing Efforts: The Eat Right Awards
The FSSAI has established the ‘Eat Right Awards’ to acknowledge the efforts of food companies and individuals facilitating the availability of safe and healthy food options to the public, enhancing their health and well-being.
Educating Citizens: The Eat Right Mela
The FSSAI conducts the Eat Right Mela as an awareness campaign to guide citizens towards healthier eating habits. This event aims to educate participants about the health and nutritional benefits of various food types.
Understanding Food Safety Laws
The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an independent body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which consolidates various acts and orders handling food-related issues in different ministries and departments. The FSSAI’s primary role is to establish science-based standards for food items and regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure the availability of safe, nutritious food for human consumption.
