"Food safety: prepare for the unexpected"

On World Food Safety Day, we remember that food safety is a collective responsibility – everyone from producers to consumers needs to play their part. This is the only way we can be sure the food on your plate will be safe. However, there are exceptional situations where even if we have all played our part, the unexpected intervenes and food safety is compromised.

Even then, there is always something we can do to avoid illness. Are you ready for the unexpected?

Food safety incidents can range from minor events to major international crises, whether it is a power outage at home, a food poisoning at a local restaurant, a voluntary recall of contaminated products by a manufacturer, an outbreak from imported products, or a natural disaster.

Food safety hazards do not recognize borders, so in an increasingly interconnected global food supply, risks posed by unsafe food can rapidly evolve from a local problem to an international emergency.

  “Food safety is everyone’s business”

Food supply chains involve several people: producers, processors, transporters, distributors, retailers, cooks as well as consumers.
At every point in the chain, there are hazards that can cause contamination. Everyone involved at the various stages has a responsibility to keep food safe.

There are five calls to action on World Food Safety Day:

• 1. Ensure it’s safe - Governments must ensure safe and nutritious food for all
• 2. Grow it safe - Agriculture and food producers need to adopt good practices
• 3. Keep it safe - Business operators must make sure food is safe
• 4. Know what’s safe - Consumers need to learn about safe and healthy food
• 5. Team up for food safety – Let’s work together for safe food and good health!