On October, 17, 2022, WHO launched the updated Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030, adopted by the 75th World Health Assembly, in a step towards a safer and healthier world and towards strengthening multisectoral collaboration and innovative public health approaches.

This new Strategy addresses current and emerging challenges, incorporates new technologies and includes innovative approaches for strengthening food safety systems. It also reflects feedback received through a comprehensive consultation process with Member States and and other intergovernmental organizations and institutions and the members of public. The Global Food Safety Strategy has been developed to guide and support Member States in their efforts to prioritize, plan, implement, monitor and regularly evaluate actions towards the reduction of the burden of foodborne diseases (FBDs) by continuously strengthening food safety systems and promoting global cooperation.

The strategy also sets concrete targets and aims to reduce the burden of foodborne diseases by reducing 40% the number of cases of foodborne diarrheal diseases incidence that affects most the children under 5 and other vulnerable populations. It also has a target of 100% of functional coordination mechanisms to manage foodborne events and enhanced laboratory capacity for foodborne disease surveillance.

“The new Strategy is a milestone in WHO work to promote health, keep the world safe and protect the vulnerable from unsafe food,” said Dr Simone Moraes Raszl, Scientist with WHO Department of Nutrition and Food Safety. “It has been developed to guide and support Member States in their efforts to prioritize, implement and evaluate actions towards the reduction of the burden of foodborne diseases (FBDs) by continuously strengthening food safety systems and promoting global cooperation.”