Over 200 diseases are caused by unsafe foods that contain viruses, chemicals, parasites and harmful bacteria. An estimated 2 million deaths occur every year from contaminated food or drinking water. And, improper pest management contributes to this problem. That is why your Indianapolis pest control professionals at Action Pest Control are working with the World Health Organization to observe World Health Day April 7th. This year's focus is on food safety.
Food safety begins with awareness. Do you know where your food comes from? Do you know what ingredients are in it? Can you be sure that it has been properly cultivated and safely transported to your local grocery store? Food can be contaminated in fields, storage, transport and even on grocery store shelves. The World Health Organization is calling on producers, policy makers, and the public to promote food safety for a safer world.
A safe food supply is the core foundation of civil society, both local and global. It is the responsibility of individuals, governments, the private sector, and intergovernmental agencies, to work together to reduce risks of disease both acute and chronic. Unsafe food can lead to a range of health issues including diarrhoeal disease, reproductive and developmental problems, viral disease, and cancers. Thus, it is important to build awareness of potential threats.
Causes of foodborne illness are:
- Parasites
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Prions
- Natural and man-made chemicals
The World Health Organization is using this to spur governments to improve food safety through public awareness campaigns and to encourage consumers to ask questions, check labels, follow hygiene tips, and know what is on their plate. From farm to plate, we all have a role to play in making sure our food is safe.
Watch #safefood on Twitter April 7th to learn important information about food safety and how you can be a part of the solution. Together we can protect our food supply.