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Several measures need to be taken to ensure food safety: Health Minister

Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has stated to ensure food safety several measures need to be taken, adding efforts are underway to seek equipment required. The health minister made the remarks at the ceremony held to launch programmes planned to mark World Food Safety Day.

Speaking at the ceremony, Health Minister Ameen said food inspection are not conducted frequently, adding in efforts to inspect food related entities frequently, the ministry is currently seeking the equipment required. He said in addition to equipment, human resources need to be developed in the sector as well.

Furthermore, the health minister appealed all businesses to take self-responsibility and ensure food safety before bringing it on the market. In addition, he revealed the ministry is seeking legal authority to monitor food safety, advising all businesses to take necessary measures before selling food products.

The theme for this year's World Food Safety Day is Food Safety, Everyone's Business. Food safety has a critical role in assuring food stays safe at every stage of the food chain - from production to harvest, processing, storage, distribution, all the way to preparation and consumption.

With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually, unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, disproportionally affecting vulnerable and marginalised people, especially women and children, populations affected by conflict, and migrants. An estimated 3 million people around the world -- in developed and developing countries -- die every year from food and waterborne disease.