Happy World Food Safety Day!
On 7th June every year, we celebrate food safety. Globally, we take the day to recognise how important Food Safety is to keep people healthy and safe.
Contaminated food causes over 200 diseases, and worldwide 1 in 10 people fall ill from this. Food contamination can stem from bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical substances being present in the food.
Today, food safety faces many challenges – from climate change to population growth – and it is everyone’s business to keep food safe. Each year it is estimated that 5 million people die globally from infections caused by microbes in their foods. Microbes, also known as microorganisms, are small living things found all around us. Although not visible by eye they can have a big impact on us, the most common being that they cause food poisoning.
Food poisoning can stem from bad bacteria and viruses, which is often spread by touch. Harmlessly touching your face and not thinking or forgetting to wash your hands before touching food could lead to you or a customer becoming seriously ill.
You will also be aware that allergens are of real concern to the industry and despite much greater awareness in recent years, we still see people die needlessly because of lack of controls in food businesses.
There are many factors that can lead to food related illnesses and that is why food handlers within AFB all have relevant levels of training. Anyone who buys products, works where we store them, helps to transport them and finally prepares and sells them can impact someone’s health.
What can we do to help?
Just follow simple rules: buy from reputable suppliers, keep depots clean and pest free, maintain great hygiene standards, wash your hands properly and regularly, keeps pests away from the food and ensure temperatures are maintained in fridges and freezers. All of these will help us keep our customers safe.
So, let's not just make food safe on one day, do it every day because good food safety controls save lives.
AFB have a Food Safety department within Central Services. They assist teams across Blakemore in all aspects of food safety. If you want more information, please feel free to contact them on: foodsafetyenquiries@afb.co.uk.