African Union Commemoration of World Food Safety Day : Concept Note and Draft Agenda

Abstract

Unsafe food threatens human health and maintains the unacceptable status quo in food insecurity, poverty and a range of health related problems making national development and lasting peace more challenging. Contaminated foods adversely affect human health, economic development and trade, and disproportionally affect children and other vulnerable groups (young, old, pregnant, malnourished and immune-suppressed people). Foodborne diseases caused by ingesting unsafe food make 600 million people ill and cause 420,000 premature deaths annually which translates into productivity losses of US$95 billion a year in developing countries alone...