(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) New data on the harm caused by food-borne illnesses underscore the global threats posed by unsafe foods, and the need for coordinated, cross-border action across the entire food supply chain, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
KEY FACTS
Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health
Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances causes more than 200 diseases € ranging from diarrhoea to cancers
Food safety, nutrition and food security are inextricably linked. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, elderly and the sick
Food-borne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining healthcare systems and harming national economies, tourism and trade
Food supply chains now cross multiple national borders. Good collaboration between governments, producers and consumers helps ensure food safety
"Unsafe food is known to be involved in more than 200 different diseases - from communicable diseases such as cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases, to a range of noncommunicable diseases, including various forms of cancer," said Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. Examples of unsafe food include under-cooked foods of animal origin, fruits and vegetables contaminated with faeces, and shellfish containing marine biotoxins.
WHO also issued the first findings from what is a broader ongoing analysis of the global burden of food-borne diseases. The full results of this research, being undertaken by WHO's Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG), are expected to be released in October 2015.
"Despite the fact that governments have committed themselves to establish, operate and maintain well-functioning food safety systems, in some countries, food safety systems are still fragmented, under-funded and under-staffed. In addition, food safety authorities are often restricted in their powers and find themselves struggling to take appropriate public health action because of old and outdated legislation," ," he said.
"Of the 22 Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, only five have reported that they meet completely the core capacity requirements of the International Health Regulations with regard to food safety. Overall, the countries of the region report an average of only 75 per cent fulfilment of the capacity to deal with food safety events of international concern."
news@khaleejtimes.com
It's a shared responsibility, say UAE authorities
Ministry of Health, DM and DHA have introduced various initiatives to make sure the food we eat is safe and healthy
Asma Ali Zain and Sajila Saseendran
Make safe/wise choices
Take particular care in preparing food for pregnant women, children, the elderly and the sick (those with a weakened immune system)
When eating food from street vendors or buffets in hotels and restaurants, make sure that cooked food is not in contact with raw food that could contaminate it
Make sure the food you eat is prepared and kept in good hygienic conditions (clean, cooked thoroughly, and kept at the right temperature, i.e. hot or refrigerated/on ice)
When shopping, keep raw meat, poultry, fish and shellfish away from your basket or your grocery cart and use separate bags for transportation
When there is any doubt about the safety of drinking water, boil or treat it before drinking
When visiting food markets, be aware that live animals can transmit a number of diseases. Avoid handling or coming into close contact with these animals
The food on our plate has travelled a long way before we consider it fit to eat. Today, on World Health Day that is being marked worldwide with the theme of 'From farm to plate, make food safe', UAE authorities are calling upon consumers to practise safe food hygiene and learn how to take care when cooking specific foods that may be hazardous (like raw chicken), and read the labels when buying and preparing food.
"With the breadth of the phenomenon of globalisation of our food supply, it is clear that it is necessary to strengthen food safety systems and adopt standards and controls needed to provide protection against the risks to food safety."Dr Hussein Abdul Rahman Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for Centres and Health Clinics at the Ministry of Health, said that food safety is a shared responsibility throughout the food production chain - starting from farmers, manufacturers, vendors and consumers.
While consumers enjoy their food everyday with a peace of mind, the Dubai Municipality works hard behind the scenes to ensure that the safe food supply chain remains unbroken.
In Dubai, the Food Control Department of the Dubai Municipality has implemented several regulations to ensure the safety of food that is imported or prepared here.
Carrying the motto "food safety is a shared responsibility," the department has also been spearheading a lot of initiatives to get the active involvement of all stakeholders in nurturing the food safety culture in the community.
Using its mascot Mr Safe, the department periodically conducts food safety awareness programmes for the industry and customers.
Smart inspection programmes; the Person-in-Charge initiative, which made it mandatory for all Dubai eateries to have a certified food safety manager; the Food Safety Clinic project that improves the standards in poorly performing eateries; and the Grow Your Food initiative that encourages a green revolution through kitchen gardens are some of the major initiatives that the department has introduced. And all these have an ultimate aim of ensuring safety of food from farm to fork.
With regards to food-borne disease control, Dubai has come a long way after the municipality and the Dubai Health Authority established a surveillance system that keeps track of food poisoning cases and outbreaks. The system also makes sure quick and comprehensive investigation into food-borne illness outbreaks and food poisoning cases.
New rules to prevent salmonella infection by banning the use of raw eggs in cooked food and solving the mystery of many deaths linked to suspected food poisoning by establishing their actual cause as pesticide poisoning are some of the success stories of the system.
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