World Food Safety Day 2022
For World Food Safety Day on 7th June 2022, the slogan “Food safety is everyone’s business” is being used, because it is, isn’t it?
Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances can cause more than 200 different diseases. These range from diarrhoea to cancers. Around the world, an estimated 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people – fall ill after eating contaminated food each year. This results in 420 000 deaths and the loss of the equivalent of 33 million healthy life years
We all have a role to play; whether we grow, process, transport, store, sell, buy, prepare or serve food, food safety is in all our hands. And if we work together, we can all help achieve safer food for better health.
Foodborne diseases affect 1 in 10 people worldwide each year. There are over 200 of these diseases – some mild, but others deadly.
As a consumer, you can educate yourself about the food you prepare and follow WHO’s Five Keys to Safer Food. These are keep clean, separate raw and cooked, cook thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures and use safe water and raw materials. In the UK, mains water is potable or safe to drink.
Did you know?
In the UK, your local water authority will publish results from your area on their website. If you search the internet for the name of your water provider, for example Thames Water, and “water quality” . You may be asked for your post code, and you can download the latest test results for microbiological and chemical testing carried out by the water provider in your area. Sometimes radiological results may be included too.
There are a couple of blogs written to help you as a consumer with food safety. There is one about travelling here and one for Christmas here.
As a business owner, you have a responsibility to ensure that food is handled safely in your business. This is regardless of whether you sell food and drink as a business or provide kitchen facilities for the team that you employ.
Aim to engage employees, suppliers and other stakeholders to grow and develop a food safety culture and comply with national food standards.
If you need help with food safety, get in touch for a free 30 minute call. Having written a supplier approval standard, and being a qualified lead auditor for BRCGS and a Registered Professional Food Auditor and Mentor, with the IFST, if I don’t know the answer, I will know someone who does. Get in touch and let’s talk.
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