BY JAMES MUTUA
The government of Kenya in partnership with other development partners has organized and conducted a 3-day conference to commemorate World Food Safety Day in Nairobi, Kenya themed ‘food standards saves lives’. The summit was attended by over 500 delegates from across the African region representing over 30 member countries and 2 economic blocks. The aim of the summit was to create awareness of the importance of food standards in protecting consumer health and facilitating trade, to raise awareness on the importance of food safety and to provide a platform for sharing experiences and best practices on implementation and compliance with food safety standards and measures.
Royal Danish Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Ole Thonke, who was the chief guest said that there are many similarities between Kenya and Denmark in the agricultural sector, thus the focus on food standards is a global phenomenon.
Food safety and food standards is a business for everyone; therefore, collaboration and partnership amongst all stakeholders in the food safety sector in Kenya are extremely important
highlighted Mr. Thonke.
Additionally, he stated that there is a new bill on food safety in the Kenyan parliament to be debated, and it takes the philosophy that everybody has the responsibility in the food safety sector, with recommendations on how the government can work together with the same model and methods to enhance food safety, insisting that when it is passed, it will be a step forward in Kenya.
Thonke emphasized that the Danish Embassy has worked together with the Kenya government for six years through the Strategic Sector Corporation, where they have experts from the Danish Ministry of Food and Agriculture who work directly with the Kenyan counterparts in sharing experiences on the methods and new models to ensure that Kenya has an up-to-date food safety system.
On her part, Micro Enterprises Support Program Trust CEO Ms. Rebecca Amukhoye said that unsafe food is unacceptable and while foodborne illnesses have great negative impacts on human health and economies, food safety in Africa is yet to receive the political attention it requires. She emphasised on need for concerted efforts towards harmonised coordination of food safety at national and county levels.
At the same time , Kenya Bureau of Standards acting Managing Director Mrs Esther Ngari stated that the significance of this year’s theme could not be overstated.
It’s an urgent call, a beacon guiding our journey towards a world where every morsel of food nourishes and sustains rather than pose a threat to life. “It is time to turn insight into action. Upholding and enforcing food safety standards isn’t just a goal, it’s our shared responsibility. Ensuring food safety is not a privilege but a norm to be cultivated
Said Ms. Ngari
World Safety Food Day is celebrated every year on June 7th.
