The Food and Agriculture Organization proposes the safe production, processing and distribution of food – Escambray

With the number of cases of foodborne illness on the rise, food insecurity poses a threat to human health and the economy

With around 600 million annual cases of foodborne illness, the FAO on Wednesday launched an initiative targeting workers in the food sector to safely produce, process and distribute food.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) intends to implement tools that facilitate compliance with hygiene regulations, and ensure safe production and distribution in order to protect the health of consumers.

This toolkit is for all operators, working on the farm or along the value chain, regardless of size and location.

It is based on the Codex Alimentarius (Latin for food symbol), a set of guidelines administered jointly with the World Health Organization (WHO), which aims to protect people’s health and promote fair practices in trade. food.

For example, it contains guidance on personal hygiene, instructions to be given to outside visitors entering a food production facility, correct hand washing procedures and frequency, and suggestions for appropriate clothing.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization, with the number of cases of foodborne diseases on the rise, food insecurity poses a threat to human health and the economy, disproportionately affecting vulnerable and marginalized groups, especially women and children, conflict-affected populations and migrants.

According to estimates, 420,000 people die each year worldwide after eating contaminated food, and children under the age of five bear 40 percent of the foodborne disease burden, with 125,000 deaths each year.