On June 7, countries around the globe will celebrate World Food Safety Day, focusing this year on “Safer food, better health” as the theme. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, World Food Safety Day is an annual observation intended to mobilize action to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks and improve human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day.

According to WHO, foodborne diseases affect 1 in 10 people worldwide each year. Safe food is a key contributor to reducing these foodborne illnesses and other poor health conditions, including impaired development, micronutrient deficiencies, noncommunicable and communicable diseases, and mental illnesses. Only when food is safe can we fully benefit from its nutritional value.

Everyone has a role to play in food safety—whether we grow, process, transport, store, sell, buy, prepare, or serve food. The way we build food systems and how we organize food supply chains can help achieve safer food for better health.

WHO is calling on everyone to join in World Food Safety Day to ensure safe food for all. Check out the Guide to World Food Safety Day to learn more about how various stakeholders can promote safer food and better health on World Food Safety Day this June 7 and every day.