World Health Day Today

Today is World Health Day. The WHO is using the day to highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with food safety under the slogan : “From farm to plate, make food safe.' 

WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan in a statement says new data on the harm caused by food borne illnesses underscore the global threats posed by unsafe foods, and the need for coordinated, cross-border action across the entire food supply chain. 

It said food production has been industrialized and its trade and distribution have been globalized. 

These changes introduce multiple new opportunities for food to become contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemicals. 

The statement said a local food safety problem can rapidly become an international emergency. 

The statement says WHO is working to ensure access to adequate, safe, nutritious food for everyone. 

The Organization supports countries to prevent, detect and respond to food borne disease outbreaks—in line with the Codex Alimentarius, a collection of international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice covering all the main foods. 

It says Food safety is a cross-cutting issue and shared responsibility that requires participation of non-public health sectors, that is agriculture, trade and commerce, environment, tourism and support of major international and regional agencies and organizations active in the fields of food, emergency aid, and education.

GBC