Every day a total of 1.6 million people fall ill worldwide from the ingestion of contaminated food and 40% of them are children, said the World Health Organization (WHO).
Within the framework of the fifth World Food Safety Daywhich is held every June 7, the director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety of the WHO, Francesco Branca, explained that “contamination can come from various sources such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals,” he explained.
The organization estimated up to two hundred diseases that they can cause and that range from diarrhea to cancer, and recalled that it is the responsibility of governments that the food that is available to the population meets safety standards.
Today’s event also coincides with the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Codex Alimentarius, an international entity that establishes the safety rules and food quality, under the umbrella of the United Nations and whose secretariat is housed in the WHO.
Along these lines, the launch of a set of tools for all operators in the food sector to help them comply with international standards that guarantee food safety.
Its content includes guides on personal hygiene, how to sensitize visitors entering food production plants, how often and how to wash hands, as well as recommendations on the type of clothing to wear.