DDiAdmiN
Views: 537

Did you know that one in ten people worldwide fall ill from contaminated food each year? Over 200 diseases are caused by eating contaminated food, and 40 percent of the foodborne disease burden is carried by children under 5. On June 7, we commemorate World Food Safety Day to draw attention to the importance of food safety incidents and the role we all play in ensuring the food we consume is safe.

This year’s theme, “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected,” underscores the necessity of being prepared for food safety incidents, regardless of their severity. From accidents and inadequate controls to food fraud and natural events, these incidents pose significant health risks. It’s a shared responsibility among governments, producers, and consumers to ensure that the food from farm to table is safe and won’t harm our health.

At Diamond Development Initiatives (DDI), we champion food safety through our Agricultural Value Chain Development and Commodity Market Access Services. This is where we provide sustained value chain development and improvement to smallholder farmers, with access to the range of services necessary for enhancing agricultural products as they move from farm to the dining table. With projects like the GAIN SNiPS Home Gardening and Cassava Biofortification Projects, we promote good agronomic practices, provide access to quality seeds, and enhance product marketing efficiency, increasing incomes for members. By ensuring agricultural products move smoothly from farm to consumer and enhancing food safety and nutrition for thousands of households. 

Together, let’s work together to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy for everyone.

 

FAQs

  1. What is World Food Safety Day? World Food Safety Day, celebrated on June 7, aims to draw attention to and inspire action to help prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism, and sustainable development.
  2. Why is food safety important? Food safety is crucial because contaminated food can cause over 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancer. It affects people of all ages, particularly children under 5, leading to high health costs and reduced quality of life.
  3. What is the theme for World Food Safety Day 2024? The theme for World Food Safety Day 2024 is “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected,” emphasizing the importance of being ready for food safety incidents.
  4. How can consumers contribute to food safety? Consumers can contribute to food safety by practicing safe food handling at home, following WHO’s Five Keys to Safer Food: keep clean, separate raw and cooked, cook thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures, and use safe water and raw materials.
  5. What role do governments play in food safety? Governments develop and regularly update national food safety emergency response plans, ensure a coordinated approach across agencies, provide rapid and accurate information during food safety events, and report international emergencies to INFOSAN.
  6. What is INFOSAN? The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) is a global network of national food safety authorities, established by FAO and WHO, to facilitate rapid information exchange across borders and between members about food safety incidents.
  7. How has DDI contributed to food safety? DDI champions food safety through Agricultural Value Chain Development, improving smallholder farmers’ access to essential services. Projects like GAIN SNiPS Home Gardening and Cassava Biofortification promote good agronomic practices, quality seeds, and efficient marketing, enhancing food safety and nutrition for thousands of households while boosting incomes.