The theme for World Food Safety Day, 7 June, this year is “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected,” which was chosen to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the launch of the FAO/WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network, or INFOSAN.

The World Food Safety Day campaign in 2024 is inspiring preparedness on food safety, which includes in an emergency situations when it is necessary to quickly identify the nature and extent of an international outbreak, or potential outbreak, of foodborne illness. For the last twenty years, INFOSAN has been at the forefront of food safety preparedness, providing a vital platform for food safety authorities across the world to alert each other to food safety incidents. The rapid information sharing that INFOSAN facilitates has ensured the prevention, detection and management of contamination along food and feed supply chains, containing illness and saving lives.

The initiative to create the network emerged from work on the Codex Principles and Guidelines for the Exchange of Information in Food Safety Emergency Situations (CXG 19-1995). The guidelines acknowledge that trade globalization and increased import/export operations have created a need for competent authorities to be able to exchange quickly and efficiently on emergency situations, to communicate to relevant food business operators and consumers, to identify the origins of contaminations and to trace products that might need to be withdrawn.

“The Codex Principles and Guidelines for the Exchange of Information in Food Safety Emergency Situations underscore the importance of communication when a food safety emergency arises, in order to minimize potential adverse public health effects,” says Patrick Sekitoleko, Food Standards Officer for the Codex Alimentarius Secretariat. He explains: “It is essential to communicate the nature and extent of the emergency to all relevant parties, including action taken by the exporting country, as expeditiously as possible to ensure prompt action can be taken to manage the food safety emergency in importing countries. The global nature of food trade requires that the communication occurs as rapidly as possible among all relevant competent authorities of affected countries.”

The vital role of information sharing to reduce illness and save lives will be highlighted on this World Food Safety Day. Tune in to events around the world, organize your own event and make sure you are prepared for the unexpected!

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World Food Safety Day website
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Download the Communication Toolkit
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Codex Principles and Guidelines for the Exchange of Information in Food Safety Emergency Situations (CXG 19-1995)
INFOSAN