The quality of one’s health defines the quality of food one takes in. The common phrase “we are what we eat” speaks to the fact that the quality of food we take in reflects on the quality of our health. This points to our diet being the root cause of our poor health and that we should be mindful of what we eat to maintain a healthy life.
The month of June has been set aside as World food safety month. Ghana as a country has also set aside this month to observe the celebration. The observance of this celebration is to create awareness and sensitize the public on food safety.
Food is essential for human development; man cannot live without it. As such, food safety is of great concern to human health. Proper handling, preparing and storing of food is of great importance and should be taken serious.
Food safety is everyone’s business as it can be a global threat and a public health concern if things go wrong. In this regard, we should be watchful of what we eat in order to maintain good health.
In the regard of striving for quality over quantity, more attention should be diverted from just food security and harvesting masses to practically put in the work to ensure safety, quality of food and feed since human and animals (aquatic and terrestrial) depend on it.
As part of the celebration, the technical working group of Intersectoral Food Safety Coordinating Committee which is composed of representatives of various government agencies and other stakeholders of the food value chain has duly launched the 2023 World Food Safety Month Celebration on the theme: Food standards, save lives. Activities marking the celebrations began on the 1st of June with official launching of the 2023 celebration and press briefing, on the 7th of June, 2023 there will be an open forum conference and trade fair across the country.
The following activities will be undertaken as part of the celebration; awareness creation (through social media, interviews on radio and TV) quiz for second cycle schools in Central region, sensitization of school children on food safety issues, grand market durbar including float through town and food hygiene competition. There will be talk and public education on the 2023 theme, stakeholder engagement including standards and regulation of food and ensuring food safety and finally competition on awareness and panel discussion on food safety by future professionals in KNUST to end the World Food Safety month celebration.