-
.
- Русский
"Food Standards Save Lives"
This is the title of World Food Safety Day, which is celebrated on 7 June. This year, the celebration of the day aims to raise awareness of the implementation of Food Standards, which help to ensure both the quality and safety of food.
Foodborne diseases, illnesses resulting from the consumption of unsafe food, are usually infectious or toxic in nature and are caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals (such as pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, dyes, heavy metals, mycotoxins, etc.) that enter the human body through contaminated food or water. A total of 200 diseases caused by consumption of unsafe food have been counted.
World Health Organization figures estimate that each year, globally, more than one in ten people are affected by food-borne illnesses. 340 children under the age of five die from foodborne illnesses. which can be prevented by implementing the necessary food standards.
Food safety standards define the criteria that must be met in order for a food to be safe and of good quality, both to protect the health of consumers and to establish their confidence in the product. A prime example of the application of standards to issues such as nutrition is the mandatory labelling of allergens in food, which protects consumers suffering from food allergies.
At the international level, the standard-setting body for food for the past 60 years has been the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which includes representatives from 188 member countries and one member organisation, the European Union. Codex Alimentarius includes 236 standards, 84 guidelines, 56 codes of practice, 126 maximum levels for contaminants in food and over 10,000 standards setting quantitative, maximum levels for food additives and maximum residue limits for pesticides and veterinary drugs in food.
Cyprus actively participates in the formulation and implementation of relevant international standards, as well as European Union (EU) food safety legislation, in close cooperation with the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other EU Member States.
Finally, it is noted that the European Union has one of the highest food safety standards in the world, ensuring and promoting a sustainable environment for safe food not only at European but also at international level.
(DK)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
