“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Teresa, once said
She was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun and the founder of the Missionaries of Charity. She died on September 5, 1997.
Normally, when your stomach grumbles, you don’t think twice about how to remedy that situation. Being able to walk to a restaurant or to a grocery store is a privilege many of us do not realise so many others are without.
However, at least one in five Africans goes to bed hungry, and an estimated 140 million people in Africa face acute food insecurity, according to the 2022 Global Report on Food Crises Mid-Year Update.
In an effort to do their part to combat this, on Wednesday, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar joined hands to commemorate World Food Safety Day on June 7.
This follows the successful launch of the national nutrition campaign in the United Republic of Tanzania through the EU-funded Agri-Connect Flagship Programme.
This global event serves as a crucial opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of safe and sustainable food systems, ensuring the well-being of people and the planet.
Under the theme ‘Food Standards Save Lives’ and the slogan ‘Food Safety, Everyone’s Business’, the Ministry of Health, through the Zanzibar Food and Drug Agency (ZFDA), has organised a five-kilometre public health walk for food safety.
The event has featured an engaging walk route through the heart of our community while fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaboration to enhance coordination and cooperation in addressing food safety challenges.
With an event like this, FAO are literally walking the talk of Mother Teresa, as to a certain extent, an educational programme with key messages based on this year’s theme was set up to provide public information on various aspects of food safety, including proper food storage and preparation techniques.
Either, the participants had the opportunity to engage with experts in the field of food safety, including representatives from local health authorities, food industry professionals, and community organisations.
“Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are prevalent in Zanzibar. Food safety is a critical aspect of public health, ensuring that the food we consume is safe, nutritious, and free from contaminants,” said Mama Mariam Mwinyi, First Lady of Zanzibar who is the Founder and Chair of the Maisha Bora Foundation, in her remarks during the event.
Adding: “With the increasing importance of safe food practices, bringing together community members, local businesses, and stakeholders for a public walk for food safety will raise awareness and promote best practices in food safety and healthy lifestyles. Food Safety is Everyone’s Business,
For his part, the Zanzibar Minister for Health, Mr Nassor Mazrui, stated that food safety is a major determinant of human health and that access to safe food is a basic human right.
He added that the Ministry of Health, through ZFDA, has the Standards Act mandated to control food safety issues.
“To commemorate the day, Tanzania is urged to adopt the UN recommendations to improve the coordination of food safety control services in the country,” he elaborated.
On the other hand, the Ambassador of the European Union to Tanzania, Mr Manfredo Fanti, said ensuring safe food from farm to fork is central to the EU’s food safety policies and a pre-condition for food trade, both at home and abroad.
“This Agri-CONNECT project responds to a well-rounded approach where citizens are involved in adopting nutritious diets and healthy lifestyles, irrespective of their incomes, as well as broadening national distribution and market systems for safe food,” said Mr Fanti.
The partnership recognises that safe and sustainable food systems are fundamental to achieving food security, eliminating hunger, and promoting public health. The EU “Farm to Fork” strategy seeks to ensure a high level of safety at all stages of the production and distribution process for all food products marketed, which is in line with the country’s objectives.
In addition, the joint initiative between the government, FAO, and EU on the #lisheboranimtaji awareness campaign aimed to raise awareness among the population about the close link between nutrition and trade.
Besides, an assistant FAO representative in Tanzania, Mr Charles Tulahi, emphasised that “Food safety is everyone’s business, and FAO, together with the World Health Organisation (WHO), play a leading role in setting international food standards to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. However, collaboration is needed at many levels, across sectors within a government, and across borders when combating food safety threats globally.
