As the Vice Minister of Health care E. Kiyasov (main photo) noted, food products consumed by the population determine the standard of living and well-being of future generations. WHO estimates that the consumption of food contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as toxic or chemical substances, causes 600 million cases of foodborne illness and 420 000 lethal cases each year.

A welcoming speech was made by the founder of the primary health care in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the organizer of the landmark Alma-Ata conference, at which the historic "Magna Carta of World Health" was adopted, the founder of nutritional science in Kazakhstan, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Laureate of the Leon Bernard WHO Foundation for outstanding contribution to development of world health care, President of the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition Toregeldy Sharmanov (photo right).

This year, World Food Safety Day is held under the motto "Food safety is everyone's business!". Food safety calls for action to reach everyone in the food chain – “from farm to table”.

The value chain has become much more complex in the digital age, so any adverse food safety incidents can have negative consequences to public health, as well as trade, employment and the economy around the world. Therefore, the application of scientific principles and approaches plays a special role in food supply.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission was established under the auspices of FAO and WHO to address food safety concerns. The international standards and procedures developed by the Commission are the main yardstick of fair trade for the World Trade Organization. Kazakhstan has achieved recognition in this organization and for the second term is the coordinator for the European region, which has 52 members, including the European Union.

The round table meeting was attended by the representatives of international organizations WHO, FAO, OIE, government agencies, scientific organizations, unions and associations of producers and consumer protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The resolution was adopted in the end of the round table, in which the participants recognized the particular importance of World Food Safety Day in global challenges, the importance of ensuring sustainable interaction in food safety among all stakeholders of the food system in order to protect consumer health and fair trade practices. In addition, they emphasized the need to introduce the best world practices to ensure food safety in Kazakhstan, the need to strengthen the role of education, science and risk assessment in ensuring the safety and quality of food products, the importance of raising consumer awareness of their rights to safe and high-quality food products.

Photo credits: © Codex Kazakhstan