The first ever World Food Safety Day was held on June 7 to raise awareness of the threat of unsafe food to human health and society.
An initiative of the United Nations supported by the World Health Organization, World Food Safety Day, aims to draw public attention and direct efforts to reduce foodborne illnesses.
Every year one in 10 people fall ill from foodborne illnesses. Poor food safety remains a cause of death for millions around the world. In the United States, more than one million people fall ill each year from salmonella alone.
In the United States’ food service businesses employ 21.5 million workers, which accounts for close to one fifth of the economy. Food safety professionals working to prevent deaths that result from foodborne illness make up a critical part of the global food supply chain. Embedding a food safety culture that empowers entire organizations in the food sector—from farmers, transport providers, CEOs, and restaurant servers—to be responsible for food safety is crucial.
BSI Managing Director of Global Food David Horlock commented, “As we celebrate the first ever World Food Safety Day, it is important to credit those at the front line that are keeping us safe.”
“By addressing the risks associated with food storage, preparation and handling, food safety professionals save countless lives worldwide every single day,” Horlock said. “The world deserves food that is safe, sustainable and socially responsible, and that means professional standards being upheld across every link of the global food supply chain.”