The Kenya government has been urged to take Immediate action in addressing Food Safety concerns.
The World Food safety day held in Nairobi on 7th June brought together 220 participants from 30 African Union member states, 2 RECs (EAC, ECOWAS), AUC, and Development Partners (EU, USAID, DANIDA) to raise awareness on the need of importance of food safety and to promote action to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks.
The event was organized by the African Union Commission, East African Community, the Government of Kenya, TradeMark Africa, MESPT, and Partners.
While Kenya has made significant contributions to international food standards, the summit recognised the need for immediate action in addressing Food Safety.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) foodborne diseases make 91 million people ill and cause 137,000 premature deaths annually in Africa.
Speaking at the 5th World Food Safety Day, The Principal Secretary of the State Department of Medical Services, Harry Kimtai highlighted concerns on food safety challenges and their impact on well-being and urged on collaborative efforts for a safer food supply chain.
Mr.Kimtai stressed on the need for immediate action to address pressing food safety concerns and protect public health.
“Food safety is not just a matter of public health but also a critical component of achieving the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), by prioritizing food safety measures, the strain on healthcare systems can be reduced, leading to improved health outcomes for individuals & communities,” added Mr. Kimtai.
The summit also called for enhanced participation in international standard setting bodies, increased investment in food safety , improved surveillance and monitoring systems and promote research on food safety.