By Marion wayua
Kenya’s signed a commitment for the adoption of a joint communique on food safety signifying a unified commitment to food safety across Africa continent.
Speaking during commemoration of the 5th World Food Safety Day 2023 in Nairobi, Mary Muriuki, the Principal Secretary State Department of Health and Professional Standards encouraged post border collaborations in joining efforts to ease the burden of food borne diseases in Africa through food safety by observing food hygiene and less waste.
“Unsafe food is a threat to the attainment of Vision 2030 and Universal Health Coverage in particular. Food safety is central to ensuring sustainable development,” she said adding that, unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diseases and malnutrition, while food borne diseases impede socio-economic development by straining healthcare systems, harming national economies tourism and trade.”.
A strengthened food safety system in the region will safeguard the health of the
public at the same time promoting fair trade.
Furthermore, part of the 2063 African Vision and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are related to food safety.
Notably, The World Food Program has led the examples in decontamination methods by nixtamalization. Through research carried out by the University of Nairobi and collaborations from Mexico.
Kenya has contributed to the development of international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice, Codex Alimentarius, to develop and implement food safety regulation and standards in the country.
Observing these regulations, standards, guidelines and codes of practice
during production will lead to improved sustainability as it is everybody’s responsibility for food security.
“I wish to advocate for increased awareness and investment in food safety systems to promote the use of Food Safety Standards as emphasized on this year’s theme of “Food
Standards Saves Lives,” she concluded.
