Every year, World Health Organization selects a priority area of global public health concern as the theme for World Health Day, which falls on the 7th of April, the birthday of the Organization. World Health Day 2015 on Food Safety is an opportunity to alert governments, manufacturers, retailers and the public to the importance of food safety - and the part each can play in ensuring that the food on people' plates is safe to eat.The great majority of people will experience a food or water borne disease at some point in their lives. This highlights the importance of making sure the food we eat is not contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, toxins and chemicals.
Over the past half century, the process by which food gets from the farm to the plate has changed drastically. Food contamination that occurs in one place may affect the health of consumers living on the other side of the planet. This means that everyone along the production chain, from producer to consumer, must observe safe food handling practices.
Click here for a short video demonstrating the importance of food safety from farm to table.
“Food safety: from farm to plate, make food safe” is the theme of World Health Day 2015. The day focuses on demonstrating the importance of food safety along the whole length of the food chain in a globalized world, from production and transport, to preparation and consumption.
Over 200 diseases are caused by unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, chemical substances. It is estimated that two million deaths occur every year from contaminated food or drinking water.
New data on the harm caused by foodborne illnesses underscore the global threats posed by unsafe foods, and the need for coordinated, cross-border action across the entire food supply chain. World Health Day will be celebrated on the 7th of April, with WHO highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with food safety under the slogan "From farm to plate, make food safe."