Every year on June 7, World Food Safety Day reminds us of the critical need for safe, nutritious food for all.

Introduction to World Food Safety Day

Since 2019, World Food Safety Day has served as a call to action for individuals, industries, and policymakers worldwide to prioritize food safety at every level of the supply chain. While food safety may be an overlooked public health issue for most of the year, this day offers an opportunity to back initiatives that protect public health and build sustainable futures.

Understanding and Celebrating World Food Safety Day

World Food Safety Day draws global attention to food safety challenges and the solutions that can save lives and millions in economic losses. It serves as a platform for individuals, health organizations, businesses,  policymakers, educators, and public health advocates to act collaboratively in support of safe food systems. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the people and food businesses who work every day to help ensure that everyone has access to safe and healthy nourishment.

Through education, collaboration, and innovation, we can build food systems that are fair, sustainable, healthy, and create lasting change.

Workers at Theday Agro Industry in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, prepare fruit for jam production. (TechnoServe)


What is the Meaning of World Food Safety Day?

World Food Safety Day aims to raise awareness and inspire concrete actions to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks. Unsafe food is a real public health challenge, with an estimated 600 million people falling ill from foodborne illness every year. However, these illnesses are preventable with the adoption of the right policies, business practices, and consumer behaviors.

Who is Behind World Food Safety Day 2025?

The United Nations, in collaboration with its agencies the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), spearheads World Food Safety Day. These organizations partner with businesses, national governments, and NGOs to drive initiatives focused on:

Key Statistics That Highlight the Need for Food Safety

Ensuring the food we eat is safe and free from contaminants can help save lives.

(Source: World Health Organization)

Nicaraguan farmer Alvaro Valerin pours milk into a storage tank. Proper handling of milk is vital to a safe dairy supply chain (TechnoServe / Douglas López)

Theme for World Food Safety Day 2025

The theme for World Food Safety Day 2025 is Science in action,” highlighting the importance of research, investigation, and the adoption of science-based practices by food businesses and consumers. 

The theme comes with calls to action for:

TechnoServe supports these efforts by helping food businesses around the world access and understand the latest guidance on how to source, process, package, and distribute food safely.

How World Food Safety Day Is Celebrated Around the Globe

In countries across the world, people observe World Food Safety Day by:

At TechnoServe, our teams have marked World Food Safety Day by publishing our food safety approach and celebrating our clients who work every day to make food safer and healthier.

Steps Everyone Can Take to Improve Food Safety


At Home

Families should follow the 5 C’s of Food Safety:

In the Workplace

Those working in restaurants, food processing companies, and anywhere else where food is produced, stored, or sold can:

As a Consumer and Advocate

The Role of Technology in Enhancing Food Safety

From blockchain solutions that trace food origins to smart sensors that monitor temperature in real-time, technology is revolutionizing food safety.

Innovations include:

Access to even basic technology can be a game-changer for many food businesses. In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, for example, companies struggle to find affordable labs that can test food samples. Investing in innovation today creates more transparent and safer food systems for generations to come.

Challenges in Global Food Safety Efforts

TechnoServe teams have identified seven common challenges to improving food safety in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia:

Bridging these gaps requires collaboration, investment, and education.

Tekchand Omprakesh harvesting peas in Haryana state, India (TechnoServe / Nile Sprague)

Success Stories: Food Businesses Making a Difference

TechnoServe clients have taken the lead in ensuring that they are providing their communities with safe food:

Every day, entrepreneurs, managers, and employees at food businesses work to ensure that the food they provide is safe and nutritious.

World Food Safety Day and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

By promoting food safety, businesses, governments, and NGOs are helping prevent illness and supporting development more broadly. Food safety directly supports several SDGs:

Aligning food safety efforts with the SDGs ensures a broader, systemic impact.

Frequently Asked Questions About World Food Safety Day

1. When is World Food Safety Day celebrated?

June 7 every year.

2. What organizations lead World Food Safety Day?

 The WHO and FAO, under the UN General Assembly’s mandate.

3. How is food safety different from food security?

 Food security ensures food availability; food safety ensures food won’t cause harm when eaten.

4. How can individuals participate?

 Practice safe food habits, share awareness campaigns, and support nonprofits working in food safety.

5. What’s the impact of unsafe food globally?

 It leads to 600 million people suffering from foodborne illnesses and $110 billion in economic losses annually.

6. How does technology enhance food safety?

 Through traceability, real-time monitoring, AI detection, and smart packaging innovations.

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