June 7 is observed across the globe as World Food Safety Day, a moment to reflect on the importance of safe food in ensuring public health, economic stability, and sustainable development. This year’s observance comes with the theme “Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected,” drawing attention to the need for strong and resilient food systems that can withstand crises, prevent contamination, and protect consumers from foodborne diseases.

The significance of this day lies in the fact that unsafe food continues to pose a major threat to health around the world. According to data from the World Health Organization, more than 600 million people—nearly one in ten globally—fall ill every year from eating contaminated food, resulting in over 420,000 deaths. Among the most vulnerable are children under the age of five, who account for nearly a third of these deaths. Contamination can occur at any stage of the food supply chain—during production, processing, storage, distribution, or preparation. Food safety lapses are often caused by poor hygiene, improper handling, unsafe agricultural practices, the misuse of chemicals such as pesticides, and a lack of awareness among handlers and consumers.

In countries like India, where food production and street-level food trade are widespread, ensuring food safety is a daily challenge. While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has implemented a range of policies and regulatory frameworks to monitor food quality, there are still significant gaps. Issues like adulterated ingredients, excessive pesticide residue, and improper storage conditions plague both urban and rural food markets. On this occasion, FSSAI is conducting awareness campaigns, organizing inspections in local markets, and providing training programs for food handlers to ensure better compliance with hygiene standards. There is a renewed focus on introducing technology-enabled traceability systems that can monitor the movement of food items from farms to consumers in real time, thus reducing the risk of contamination.

The economic cost of unsafe food is also enormous. The World Bank estimates that foodborne diseases cost low- and middle-income countries more than $100 billion annually in lost productivity and healthcare expenses. Small farmers, food vendors, and even large food processors face major setbacks when safety breaches occur. Recalling unsafe products, compensating victims, and rebuilding consumer trust are all expensive and often irreversible challenges. Moreover, as the world becomes more interconnected through trade, a single outbreak in one part of the world can have cascading effects across multiple countries, affecting economies, exports, and livelihoods.

World Food Safety Day is not merely a symbolic observance. It is a reminder to all—governments, food producers, retailers, hospitality services, consumers, and educators—that food safety is a shared responsibility. It emphasizes the need for better surveillance systems, stricter enforcement of food standards, and public awareness about safe food practices such as washing hands before handling food, cooking at the right temperatures, avoiding cross-contamination, and storing perishable items correctly.

As climate change, pandemics, wars, and economic disruptions increasingly threaten global food security, ensuring food safety becomes not just a health necessity but a moral imperative. Access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food is a fundamental human right. On World Food Safety Day 2025, the global community is called upon to invest in smarter policies, strengthen food systems, and educate every stakeholder involved in the chain from farm to fork. In doing so, we protect not just human health, but also the dignity and prosperity of entire populations.