Unsafe food is linked to the death of an estimated 2 million people each year!
According to World Health Organization, four pillars determine food security: food availability, food access, food use and, lastly, stability, or the ability to obtain food over time. This year’s World Health Day focuses on food use, and more specifically on the problem of food safety.
According to WHO, unsafe food is linked to the deaths of an estimated 2 million people annually – including many children. Food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances is responsible for more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhea to cancers.
New threats to food safety are constantly emerging. Changes in food production, distribution and consumption; changes to the environment; new and emerging pathogens; antimicrobial resistance – all pose challenges to national food safety systems. Increases in travel and trade enhance the likelihood that contamination can spread internationally
On the occasion of the World Health Day, the WHO wants to promote efforts to improve food safety, from farm to plate and everywhere in between. It is also important to work all along the food production chain, from farmers and manufacturers to vendors and consumers. It is also an opportunity to alert people working in different government sectors, farmers, manufacturers, retailers, health practitioners – as well as consumers – about the importance of food safety, and the part each can play in ensuring that everyone can feel confident that the food on their plate is safe to eat.
Exerpt from WHO web site
- World Health Day Campaign Toolkit
- More on World Health Day 2015
- Fact sheet on food safety
- Five keys to safer food
Dianova's Stance vis-à-vis Health & Social Protection Systems
We are facing global challenges in terms of food safety, as well as in terms of health in general and social protection. This is why the Dianova network wishes to appeal to a shared responsibility from all stakeholders to address these challenges.
Excerpt from the Dianova Network Manifesto
At this particular historic point in time, which is in a full transition from the age of excess of the 20th century to the age of moderation in the 21st century, we need to learn to live in new conditions, since the myth of infinite growth has shown its limitations.
The challenge is how to guarantee health and social protection with sustainability, solidarity, and equity in an economic context that will be different to what we have today.
Dianova considers that it is here where it has a role to play, together with the communities and the entire third sector, which can mobilize means and resources with a lower requirement for money, because it knows to compensate for and sometimes replace money with passion, competence, generosity and commitment. This synergy between the public sector and the third sector is essential in responding to the challenges that are ahead of us, in order to guarantee sustainability in health and social protection systems.
