Third Annual World Food Safety Day

The third annual World Food Safety Day will be held on June 7, 2021. A resolution to create a day promoting awareness of food safety was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and the Codex Alimentarius Commission in December 2018.

This year’s theme ‘Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow’ puts a spotlight on the long-term benefits of food safety for the economy, people, and the planet.

“Eating safe food is essential to food security and good health, so “Safe food now for a healthy tomorrow” captured that essence, which seemed especially important during a pandemic,” said Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations communications specialist Mia Rowan.

“While consuming food is extremely important, it is only part of the equation. Our food systems need to produce enough food for all, and everyone has a role in food safety. Safe food production brings economic benefits to business operators and greater communities.”

As a food safety program designed to help implement and maintain effective food safety procedures within fresh produce operations, CanadaGAP is pleased to lend its support to this initiative. The annual event is an opportunity for companies around the world to drive food safety awareness around the official theme of implementation.

“FAO partners with the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day internationally,” said Rowan. “To that end, we also work closely with the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the International Food Safety Authorities Network, known as INFOSAN, whose members are actively involved. Members and partners, both new and long-standing, appreciate the opportunity to advocate for food safety all together, coming together to share knowledge, ideas and experiences, and also to celebrate the people who keep our food safe.”

The third annual World Food Safety Day will draw attention and direct efforts to stopping approximately 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses that occur annually. CanadaGAP program participants can take pride in the contribution they are making towards managing risk effectively and reducing the burden of foodborne illness.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the CanadaGAP office at info@canadagap.ca or 613-829-4711, or the FAO at World-Food-Safety-Day@fao.org.