June 7 has been designated by the World Health Organization as World Food Safety Day by a decision taken in 2019. This year's World Food Day message "Safer Food, Better Health", focuses on the link between food safety and maintaining good population health. This international day is an opportunity to highlight the importance of all health actors, producers and consumers working together to keep food safe and avoid foodborne diseases.
The World Health Organization estimates that globally there are approximately 600 million cases of foodborne diseases each year, which translates into 1 in 10 people becoming ill globally. Therefore, early detection, management of foodborne risks and access to adequate quantities of safe and nutritious food is vital and contributes to food security and public health.
The main focus of the Ministry of Health is to ensure and provide a high level of health for citizens, especially in this difficult period. Food hygiene and safety issues remain high on our priorities. Our aim is to continuously assist and upgrade the food industry by ensuring those preventive mechanisms that will achieve continuous quality improvement.
The right of everyone to have access to safe, nutritious and adequate food is non-negotiable and the Department of Health calls on both food chain professionals and consumers to be vigilant to ensure that food remains safe and foodborne diseases are avoided.
(AF)
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