The Malawi Bureau of Standard (MBS) took part in the 2021 World Food Safety Day (WFSD) commemorations that were organized by the Ministry of Health. The main event marking the commemoration was a live Panel Discussion on Times Television and Radio, that took place on Monday, 7th June, 2021 at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe from 18h30 – 19h45.
This year’s event was commemorated under theme “Safe Food Now for a Healthy Tomorrow”, a reminder that production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long-term benefits for people.
Speaking during the event, the Director of Standards Development at the MBS, Mr. Fred Sikwese, addressed the audience that the MBS, as one of the Government Agencies that play a role in food safety, develops and enforces Malawi Standards for various food products that help to ensure that food provided to consumers is nutritious and safe for consumption.
It was reiterated that everyone has role to play (from the farm to the table) to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy. Food safety is therefore a shared responsibility, hence the slogan, “Food safety is everyone’s business”.
The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture (represented by the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development and the Department of Agricultural Research Services), Department of Fisheries, National Smallholder Farmers’ Association of Malawi and the Consumers Association of Malawi, were the panellists during the event.
The WFSD is commemorated on 7th June every year to draw attention and inspire action and prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development.