Rome  - “There cannot be food security and nutrition for all, without food safety. If a product is not safe to eat, we cannot call it food", said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu in a high-level hybrid event organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to celebrate the fifth edition of World Food Safety Day.

Whether food is adequate or not relates to a number of variables, including to ensuring that food is safe and can be traded. Agrifood systems transformation needs better food safety.

Food standards save lives by playing a crucial role in preventing food borne illnesses. More than 1 in 10 people fall sick each year from contaminated food, and 420,000 die. The young and the vulnerable are disproportionately affected by the 200 different foodborne diseases that result from unsafe food, most of which are preventable.

Consumer organizations’ engagement with food standards and safety

Food safety controls can be at risk, particularly in times of crisis and conflict. Food safety is everyone’s business - from governments and food businesses to scientific experts and consumer organizations.

Consumer organizations are often extremely active and experienced in the area of food standards and food safety. This work is key to the enjoyment of the right to adequate food.

The Right to Food Guidelines  encourage States to take measures to ensure that all food is safe and consistent with national food safety standards. It also supports consumer organizations to strengthen the implementation of food safety standards, including the Codex Alimentarius food labelling and other food controls to protect consumers.

The theme of this year’s World Food Safety Day was chosen to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, established by FAO and WHO, that sets international standards for food safety and quality, to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade.