Food is one of the most widely traded commodities on the planet. The scope and complexity of the global food supply chain have only grown as the world’s population and globalization has increased. Food safety has become a global issue, and an absolute necessity as the food industry’s demand grows. Maintaining food safety has become a compelling requirement for food entrepreneurs to thrive in today’s competitive food business market.
The 7th of June is World Food Safety Day, which is a significant day for the food business. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the harmful effects of polluted food and water on people’s health.
‘Safer Food, Better Health’ is the theme for World Food Safety Day 2022. The focus of the theme is on the importance and advantages of safe food, as it is one of the most important determinants of good health.
Children and adults exposed to contaminated food, for example, face immediate health and societal consequences. When people are sick, they are unable to work or attend school. Foodborne sickness can last anywhere from two to seven days, and missing that much class or work can have a negative impact on an individual’s general health and the economy in the future.
People’s chances of suffering from the aftereffects of heavy metals and pesticides in their diet may grow in the long run. The theme of this year’s Society Food Safety Day corresponds to AGQ Labs’ yearlong objective of working for a better and safer world.
We strive for superior food safety assessments as a third-party lab for food manufacturers and agronomy clients. The topic is important because we understand the value of analysis because we all have responsibility for ensuring that people eat safe and healthy meals.
World Food Safety and the Food Supply Chain
Food safety refers to the process of developing, testing, and implementing food practices. All of this is done in order to develop a finished product that poses little to no risk to the consumer.
We participate in a worldwide food supply chain in the United States. Because certain food supplies are not available all year, this is an important example for the rest of the globe. The sophisticated food safety rules and processes, on the other hand, are a drawback to the global market.
The Codex Alimentarius of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) has simplified things. A manual in which participating member countries vote on worldwide food safety standards. It also lays forth the fundamental tenets of each food item’s expectations and requirements.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Department of Commerce have all provided relief in the United States. Pesticides and heavy metals in and around food production are regulated by all of them.
From “farm to fork,” the supply chain’s infrastructure is built. All players (growers, harvesters, processors, transporters, and sellers) are accountable for reducing supply chain risks.
Importance Of Food Safety
Food safety is essential for supporting life and maintaining excellent health. Bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemical compounds that cause foodborne diseases are usually infectious or poisonous. Foodborne infections affect roughly 600 million people each year.
Every year, over 420,000 people die throughout the world as a result of consuming tainted or dangerous food. With 125,000 deaths per year, children under the age of five account for 40% of the foodborne disease burden. As a result, contaminated food poses a threat to human health and economic success, disproportionately harming vulnerable and marginalized groups, particularly women and children, conflict-affected populations, and migrants.
Keeping food safe at every stage of the food chain, from cultivation to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, and final preparation and consumption, is necessary and critical. Governments, producers, traders, and consumers all ensure that the food people eat safe and nutritious.
The World Food Safety Day is a chance to redouble efforts to ensure the safety of the food we eat and to reduce the global burden of foodborne infections.
Conclusion
On June 7, 2019, the first-ever World Food Safety Day took place. Two years later, the food industry continues to improve as an industry to provide the greatest service to its clients, partners, and consumers.
‘Good food, Good life’ is the motto that will lead to a healthy life we all should carry.
