Commemorating World Food Safety Day

Access to sufficient amounts of safe food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Foodborne illnesses are usually infectious or toxic in nature and often invisible to the plain eye, caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water.

Food safety has a critical role in assuring that food stays safe at every stage of the food chain – from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO),1 600 000 people get sick due to unsafe food in one day, on average, 340 Children under 5 years of age die due to preventable food borne diseases, on average, every day and 200 Diseases are caused by unsafe food, ranging from diarrhea to cancers.

We commemorate this year’s  day with a theme “Food standards Saves Lives”
At GEDA Uganda we contribute towards consumer empowerment through awareness raising on optimal  food safety and consumer rights.
We are cognizant of the  fact that when it’s not safe then it’s not food”.
We are committed to empowering consumers to make right choices of their food choices.
We are also reminding  each one of us that  there is no food and nutrition security without food safety.
We call upon community members to embrace optimal food handling practice for safer food.
Bwambale Benard
Food systems and Health -GEDA Uganda.

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