The United Nations(UN)’s World Food Safety Day(WFSD) is annually observed across the globe on 7th June to create awareness about the importance of maintaining food standards and to promote actions to prevent foodborne diseases at all levels.
- 7th June 2023 marks the observance of the 5th World Food Safety Day
The theme of WFSD 2023 is “Food standards save lives” and the slogan of WFSD 2023 is “Food safety is everyone’s business”
Significance:
The observance of WFSD aims to draw attention and inspire action to prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agricultural production, market access, tourism and sustainable development.
Background:
i.The 40th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Conference in July 2017 adopted a resolution in support of a World Food Safety Day and the World Health Organization(WHO) expressed their support in December 2017.
ii.On 20th December 2018, United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/73/250 and proclaimed the 7th June of every year as World Food Safety Day.
- The first-ever World Food Safety Day was observed on 7th June 2019.
iii.On 3rd August 2020, World Health Assembly (WHA) passed a resolution WHA73.5 to recognize World Food Safety Day to strengthen global efforts for food safety to reduce the burden of foodborne disease.
About Foodborne diseases:
i.Foodborne diseases are infectious or toxic in nature and are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water.
ii.This delays the socioeconomic development by affecting health care systems, and harming national economies, tourism and trade.
Key Points:
i.Around 40% of the victims of the foodborne disease are Children under 5 years. Around 125000 children aged below 5 die annualy due to foodborne diseases.
ii.Globally, around 600 million (1 in 10 people in the world) is affected due to eating contaminated food and around 420000 die every year.
iii.340 Children under 5 years of age die due to preventable foodborne diseases, on average, every day
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya released 5th State Food Safety Index of FSSAI
On the occasion of the World Food Safety Day 2023 (7th June 2023), Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoH&FA), released the 5th edition of State Food Safety Index(SFSI), an annual assessment released by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
- The index was released during the event organised by FSSAI, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Key People:
The SFSI was released in the presence of Prof. SP Singh Baghel and Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Ministers of State(MoS) MoH&FA, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FSSAI, and other senior officials.
About State Food Safety Index:
SFSI acts as a tool to propel States and Union Territories to enhance their performance and establish robust food safety systems within their jurisdictions.
Key Points:
i.Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) secured the 1st Rank among the Union Territories(UT) in the compliance to ensuring food safety as per the FSSAI norms.
- J&K is followed by Delhi and Chandigarh in 2nd and 3rd ranks.
ii.Under Small states category, Goa topped the list followed by Manipur in 2nd and Sikkim in 3rd.
iii.Under Large States category, Kerala tops the list followed by Punjab in 2nd and Tamil Nadu in 3rd.
Other Highlights of the event:
i.3 comprehensive manuals to promote food safety were released during the event.
The 3 manuals are,
- Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods- Fish & Fish Products
- Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods- Cereal and Cereal Products – 2nd edition
- Manual of Methods of Analysis of Foods- Beverages: Tea, Coffee and Chicory
ii.The winners of the Eat Right Challenge for Districts were felicitated during the event.
- The challenge, organised as the International Year of Millets, was launched to promote and encourage healthy eating habits and enhance the overall food safety and sustainability.
