Celebrating World Food Safety Day

Every year on June 7, the world comes together to observe World Food Safety Day.

Established by the United Nations in 2018, this important initiative is facilitated by the WHO and the FAO to highlight the critical need to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks.

Unsafe food remains a major global challenge, with approximately 600 million people falling ill each year.

Children under the age of five are especially vulnerable, suffering a disproportionate share of these illnesses.

Beyond the human cost, unsafe food creates a massive economic burden, costing billions in lost productivity and healthcare expenses annually.

The core message of this day is that food safety is everyone’s business.

From farmers and processors to vendors and consumers, safety must be maintained at every stage of the 'farm-to-table' journey.

By achieving high standards of safety, we contribute directly to global goals like Zero Hunger and Good Health and Well-being.

The 2026 theme, 'From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere,' marks a transition toward using scientific data and evidence-based interventions to solve these issues.

Together, we can transform global food safety through collective, informed action.