Two million people the world over, many of them children, die every year due to consumption of unsafe food. More than 200 diseases are caused as a result of food being contaminated due to bacteria, virus, parasites, and chemicals. Frequent attacks of diarrhoea lead to cancer. This apart, modern methods of food production, storage, and use are rendering human beings non-resistant to bacteria.
In this background, the World Health Organisation has decided to have food safety as the theme this year of the World Health Day, which is observed every year on April 7.
Rallies have been taken out at several places to drive home the need to have safe food. The WHO has prepared and circulated guidelines to ensure food safety, meeting international standards in preparation of supply of food.
Steps have been suggested as there is a chain of actions. The slogan is: “Farm to the plate, make the food safe.” The WHO, according to DMHO J. Sarojini, has suggested the following precautions: keep the food clean and hygienic; cooked food and raw food must be kept separately; food, particularly meat, must be thoroughly cooked; prepared food must be preserved at the right temperature; and safe water and ingredients like raw material must be used.
Consumers and consumer organisations should be cautious about bogus pharma companies that make false promises of curing diseases like cancer, improving height, reducing flab, relief from joint pains, etc., Assistant Director of Drug Control Authority V.V. Vijaya Sekhar said at a meeting organised by the Federation of Consumer Organisations and the Nehru Yuva Kendra here recently. Coordinator of NYK B. Appa Rao and president of the federation K. Venkata Ramana spoke.
