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Food safety

Fresh vegetables

Foodborne diseases take a major toll on health. Millions of people fall ill and many die as a result of eating unsafe food. Deeply concerned by this, WHO Member States adopted a resolution in 2000 to recognize food safety as an essential public health function.

Food safety encompasses actions aimed at ensuring that all food is as safe as possible. Food safety policies and actions need to cover the entire food chain, from production to consumption.


GENERAL INFORMATION

Fact sheets on food safety

Q&A: what is WHO doing to help countries improve food safety?

MULTIMEDIA

10 facts on food safety
10 facts on food safety

RELATED TOPICS

Food standards (Codex Alimentarius)
Zoonoses
Foodborne diseases
Nutrition
Avian influenza: food safety

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Joint FAO/WHO expert meetings on microbiological risk assessment

The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN)

- More about food safety

PUBLICATIONS

Prevention of foodborne disease: five keys to safer food

Guidelines for strengthening national food control systems

- More publications


WHO PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

Department of Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases

PARTNERS

Codex Alimentarius

FOOD SAFETY IN WHO REGIONS

African Region
Region of the Americas
South-East Asia Region
European Region
Western Pacific Region


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