Food safety is a critical concern in the food system, as foodborne illnesses can have severe consequences on public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 600 million people fall ill due to foodborne diseases annually, resulting in 420,000 deaths

To reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses, it is essential to implement effective food safety measures throughout the food system.

The first step is to set up proper practices during production and processing. This includes:

• Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs): Farmers should follow GAPs to minimize contamination risks during cultivation, harvesting, and storage. Practices such as water and water management, proper use of manure, and sanitary harvesting reduce the risk of contamination from the field
• Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP): This is a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and controlling hazards in the food production process. This is essential for food establishments, as it ensures that they have a robust food safety management system in place.
• Regular cleaning and sanitation: Maintaining a clean environment prevents cross-contamination. It is also important that proper disposal and storage of waste is established to prevent pests and contaminants.

Proper storage and transportation is also crucial:

• Stores should maintain appropriate temperatures, humidity, and pest control measures.
• Food should be packaged to prevent damage and contamination during transportation.
• Vehicles should be equipped with temperature control systems to maintain safe temperatures during transportation.

Food handlers also play a critical role in ensuring food safety:

• Handlers should wash hands frequently and maintain good personal hygiene.
• Regularly clean and sanitize equipment.
• Adhere to safety practices when handling and preparing produce.

Effective regulation and enforcement through regular inspections help to ensure compliance with food safety standards. These inspections should be followed by established penalties for non-compliance to ensure accountability.

Consumer Education: Appropriate education of consumers can also prevent foodborne illnesses. Actions like washing hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling food, separating raw meat, poultry, and seafood from ready-to-eat foods and cooking food to the recommended internal temperature can reduce predisposition to food poisoning incidence.

Food safety is a shared responsibility among all stakeholders in the food system. By implementing effective food safety measures, we can significantly reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and ensure a safer food supply for public consumption.

At FutuX Agri-consult Limited, we are actively creating awareness on food safety, our support has led to the adoption of good agricultural practices, and the assessment and implementation of safety certification by various agribusinesses. We are committed to playing a part in moving our food system forward and reducing the health risks brought on by a decline in food safety.