On the occasion of World Food Safety Day, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in his message today said that every individual associated with agriculture and the food system, including farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, researchers, and all stakeholders related to the food industry, play a crucial role in ensuring food security.
On World Food Safety Day, the dangerous effects of foodborne diseases are highlighted as a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that each year 866 million people are affected by contaminated food, resulting in approximately 1.5 million deaths worldwide.
This year’s theme, ‘From Burden to Solution: Safe Food Everywhere,’ emphasizes the need to translate scientific knowledge into practical measures to guarantee safe food for every individual.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the critical role of every individual involved in the food supply chain, from farmers to researchers, in achieving food security. He pointed out that unsafe food not only affects public health but also damages economic productivity, increases healthcare costs, and creates obstacles for the tourism and trade sectors.
The government is actively engaged in formulating comprehensive strategies to address these critical challenges. Prime Minister Sharif appealed to federal and provincial authorities, agricultural producers, educational institutions, private businesses, civil society, media, development partners, and citizens to cooperate in building a safe and nutritious food system.
As the global community faces the widespread issue of food contamination, cooperation and commitment from all sectors are essential to transform the burden of unsafe food into sustainable solutions.