Access to enough safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances can cause more than 200 different diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers. Around the world, an estimated 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people – fall ill after eating contaminated food each year, resulting in 420 000 deaths and the loss of 33 million healthy life years.
During the festive period, there are often increased risks for food safety issues. For example, there is usually an increase in the consumption of food, which can lead to an increased risk of contamination. There is also an increase in the amount of food prepared and served, which can lead to increased risk of contamination. In addition, there is often an increase in the number of people preparing and serving food, which can lead to a lack of knowledge or experience with proper food safety practices. All of these factors can contribute to an increased risk of foodborne illnesses during the festive period.
