Imagine sitting down to your favorite meal, maybe it’s a warm bowl of dal, a crisp salad or your go-to comfort food. You expect it to be tasty, filling, and most importantly, safe. But what if that same meal could silently cause illness? That’s exactly why World Food Safety Day, observed every year on June 7, matters more than we realize.
With the theme “Safe Food, Stronger Health,” this day reminds us that what we eat shapes our well-being. Unsafe food doesn’t just mean an upset stomach, it can lead to over 200 diseases, some of them serious. From bacteria and viruses to harmful chemicals, food can carry hidden dangers if not handled properly.
But here’s the good news: most of these risks are preventable. Simple steps like washing hands before cooking, using clean water, storing food correctly and cooking it at the right temperatures can make all the difference. It’s not just something chefs or doctors should worry about. Whether you’re a farmer growing crops, a vendor selling snacks or someone cooking at home, everyone plays a part.
Food safety is a team effort, from the field where the grain is grown to the plate it’s served on. If even one step in that journey goes wrong, the consequences can ripple far and wide. That’s why we need awareness and action at every level.
And this isn’t just about avoiding illness. Safe food means fewer hospital visits, healthier kids, stronger immune systems and thriving communities. It builds trust, in what we eat, in where it comes from and in each other.
So today, pause for a moment before your next meal. Think about the invisible chain of care that brought that food to you. And ask yourself, what can I do to keep it safe?
Because when our food is safe, our health is stronger. And when our health is stronger, our future is brighter.
