What is Food Safety and Why is it so Important?

Why?

As more and more cases of people dying due to disregard of food safety, it is important to take another look at the substances we intake to sustain us. Referring to the conditions and practices that preserve the quality of food to prevent contamination and food-borne illnesses, food safety looks to better safeguard our health and well-being in our everyday inhalation of food from farm to fork.

But what exactly does food safety entail? Let us take a look at a set of data. There was a staggering 72% decrease in foodborne illnesses from 1998 to 2021. These foodborne illnesses actually just come from eating contaminated food, but the results might vary. From a mild stomachache to severe infections, it has been a public health concern troubling the world for decades. In the United States alone, foodborne illness would cause an estimated 48 million illnesses and 3,000 deaths each year, even after the large percentile decrease. Food safety ensures that the food we consume is free from harmful variants that cause illness. The decrease in foodborne illnesses over the years is a positive sign that efforts to improve food safety practices are working. However, the fact that millions of people still fall ill and even die from contaminated food each year is a reminder of stricter food safety regulations. There is still work to be done to protect the public from the dangers of unsafe food.

Going beyond individual health, food safety also plays a role in economic well-being. Just close your eyes and imagine that half of the grade fell sick. Now what if half the school fell sick? Half the city? The number would eventually start growing faster than the speed Tesla stocks. With the potential for such widespread illness, the impact on businesses and the economy would be catastrophic. Productivity would decrease, medical costs would skyrocket, and consumer confidence would plummet. The economy would fall bad.

In the fight against food contamination, government agencies are currently enforcing strict guidelines for food handling. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) checks up with food manufacturers and conducts regular inspections of their facilities to ensure compliance with safety standards. The businesses are held accountable for their practices. In this way, food safety could be better ensured in our lives.