Kathmandu. About 600 million people around the world fall ill every year due to contaminated food. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 420,000 people die annually due to foodborne diseases.

In this context, the World Food Safety Day is being celebrated in different parts of the world today by organizing various programs to raise awareness about the importance of safe food.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed June 7 as the World Food Safety Day in 2018. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have been jointly promoting and coordinating the day.

Access to adequate and nutritious food is essential for human life, health and overall well-being. Bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemicals enter the body through contaminated food or water. Food security is seen as an even more challenging issue, as these risks are often invisible to the naked eye.

According to the World Health Organization, children under the age of five bear about 40 percent of the total burden of foodborne diseases. Every year, around 125,000 children die due to such diseases. Foodborne diseases disproportionately affect women, children, conflict-affected communities, migrants and other vulnerable groups.

According to experts, food safety is a concern related to the entire food chain from production to consumption. The risk of foodborne diseases can be significantly reduced if safety standards are followed at every stage of production, collection, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, preparation and consumption.

On the occasion, the National Food Security Day stressed the need to link food security with an effective regulatory system, access to clean drinking water, good agricultural practices, food safety management system and consumer awareness. Experts are of the view that safe food products can be ensured only through joint efforts among the government, producers, entrepreneurs, scientists, civil society and consumers.

The International Food Safety Day highlighted the inter-relationship between food security, public health, agriculture, trade, tourism and sustainable development, calling on all sides to play active role to ensure safe food.