Ms Jallow made these remarks at her offices along Kairaba Avenue during a news briefing on World Food Day – April 7.
She said: “We want to make sure that the food is safe from farm to plate, which includes animal food, water and beverages. Our office was set up in 2012 and started operation in July 2013 and it is placed under the Office of the President.”
According to her, government has since then put in place mechanisms that ensure the safety measure of food production, importation and consumption.
Also speaking, Alpha Jallow of WHO, said the theme of this year’s World Health Day is: ‘From farm to plate, make food safe’. He said consumers play an important role in promoting food safety through practising safe food hygiene, learning how to cook specific food stuff and reading labels when buying and preparing foods.
“Unsafe food could contain harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances, and cause more than 200 diseases including diarrhea, cancers, among others,” he added.
He said that in view of the fact that unsafe food stuff poses global threats, there is a need for coordinated, cross-border action across the entire food supply chain.
He explained: “Global and national level measures could also be taken, including using international platforms like the joint WHO-FAO International Food Safety Authorities Network to ensure effective and rapid communication during food safety emergencies.
“Food safety is a crosscutting issue and shared responsibility that requires participation of non-public health sectors such as agriculture, trade and commerce, environment, tourism and support from major international and regional agencies and organisations active in the fields of food, emergency aid and education.”
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