noun: safety
- the condition of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury.
- denoting something designed to prevent injury or damage.
Food safety refers to the proper food handling procedures applied during food preparation, processing, storage, and distribution of the products dealt with in a food business. The concern for the integrity of food safety remains within all parts of a food supply chain. The food safety production life cycle starts from agriculture to the packaging of finished products and delivery to the consumer’s table.
Controlling food safety requires knowledge about what could endanger its integrity and stability. Food safety is negatively affected by a variety of food contamination along the food supply chain. Contamination of food products can be caused by biological, chemical, physical, and radiological hazards and can affect all key operations. Without a proper control program for food safety, issues such as foodborne illnesses and food-related injuries can occur.
Recent data and food safety news released by the World Health Organization have estimated that at least 600 million people all over the world become inflicted with foodborne infection after consuming contaminated food. Of these people, at least 420,000 people die every year. Economic progress can be affected by productivity loss and medical expenses as a result of a foodborne disease burden.
The consequences of food safety issues may have fatal outcomes for both food business owners and consumers.
The main objective of food safety is to protect consumers of food products from foodborne illnesses or injuries related to food consumption. Foodborne illnesses are a major threat to food businesses and affect everyone all over the world as a result of inadequate food safety.
With this, the Food Safety Act of 2013 (R.A. 10611) is a legislative measure in the Philippines that aims to protect the health of consumers by ensuring that food products meet specific safety standards. It sets guidelines and regulations for food handling, processing, storage, labeling, and distribution to prevent foodborne illnesses and contamination. This act is essential in safeguarding the public from the risks posed by unsafe food consumption, including potential outbreaks of diseases caused by contaminated food. Therefore, an integral part of the journey in achieving food safety is the establishment of the Commodity Examination Facility for Agriculture (CEFA), a specialized facility designed to inspect & examine agricultural products. CEFA plays a pivotal role as the first step towards realizing this vision.
At the core of our endeavor lies food safety—a fundamental aspect of preserving the health and well-being of our people. By implementing stringent measures to ensure the safety of our food products, we shield ourselves from the dangers of contaminants and foodborne illnesses. The consequences of compromised food are profound, impacting not only individual health but also placing immense strain on our healthcare system and hindering overall economic productivity.
At the core of our endeavor lies food safety – a fundamental aspect of preserving the health and well-being of our people.