Food Safety Is Everyone’s Business

Jan 15, 2024

Foodborne illness impacts every community around the world and preventing these illnesses is essential to global health. On this World Food Safety Day, the United Nations aims to spread the message that "Food standards save lives."

According to The World Health Organization, every day 1.6 million people around the world get sick from unsafe food. In that same 24 hours, 340 children below the age of 5 will die due to a preventable foodborne disease. Children in this age range make up 9% of the world's population, yet disproportionally account for 40% of foodborne illnesses.

World Food Safety Day, June 7, highlights the importance of food standards to prevent foodborne illness. Food safety standards are established at every stage of the food production process and apply worldwide. Standards provide direction for the control of pathogens and contaminants as well as safe food handling practices to those growing, processing, packaging, distributing, and preparing your food. These standards help ensure the food we are eating and serving our loved ones is safe and nutritious.

We all have a role in keeping our food safe! You can help further prevent the spread of foodborne illness by following the Four Steps to Food Safety.

For more information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) or email [email protected] to reach a food safety specialist or chat live at ask.usda.gov from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.