Today, 7th June, it’s World Food Safety Day. This day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, to promote correct information for citizens on issues related to food security, such as foodborne diseases and sustainable food systems.
According to the WHO, one in ten people gets sick every year as a result of eating foods contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals. It is therefore essential that all consumers are aware of the risks arising from the purchase and ingestion of non-compliant products and that the manufacturing companies undertake to monitor procedures throughout the supply chain, in addition to the control of products intended for trade.
What is food safety?
Respecting food safety requirements means guaranteeing the hygienic and sanitary quality of food, making the production process safe and preventing the risks associated with the onset of pandemics, allergic reactions and serious illnesses.
The mandatory requirements on food hygiene are defined within horizontal and vertical regulations: they refer to the food sector in general and to a single type of food. These regulations preside the activity of all the figures involved in the food chain: from farmers and breeders, to companies that deal with sales and brokerage.
For this reason, one of the main issues to be addressed when it comes to safe nutrition is that of controls.
In particular, the certifications help to monitor the requirements in terms of safety, quality and compliance with current food product standards.
The importance of certifications
ITA0039 recently promoted the theme of food safety during the event: “From Farm to Fork. Food safety: quality, sustainability, certified origin”.
With the UniVerde Foundation, Euro-Toques Italia, Coldiretti, and Fooditbetter, we talked about the initiatives to reconcile the food system with the needs of the planet and responding to the growing demand for healthy, sustainable and certified food. The speech of the Minister of Tourism Massimo Garavaglia was one of the most meaningful. He underlined the importance of a shared and coordinated action between public and private, inside and outside the Italian borders, to enhance the country’s food and wine and food safety of Made in Italy products also abroad, thanks to initiatives such as ITA0039 | 100% Italian Taste Certification.
Every day is the World Food Safety Day for those who constantly fight for the healthiness and certainty of the origin of food. It remains an excellent opportunity to turn the spotlight on the importance of certifications and inspections on production processes in the global food sector. The ITA0039 certification, in particular, safeguards the Italian agri-food heritage, which is unique in the world for quality and assortment and, therefore, often threatened by phenomena such as Italian sounding and the improper use of the term “Made in Italy”.
Stay Safe, Eat Safe: ITA0039 by Asacert
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