<p>By Ashley Eisenbeiser, Senior Director, Food and Product Safety Programs, FMI<span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span></p><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/world-food-safety-day-202492454c8c-67dc-48d0-9766-ec0a9e673304.tmb-large-350-.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=d5e481be_1" style="margin-bottom:10px;float:right;margin-left:10px;" class="-align-right" alt="World Food Safety Day 2024" sf-size="100" /><p>As World Food Safety Day approaches on June 7, the importance of ensuring food safety cannot be overstated. For FMI, an organization committed to advocating for the food industry and ensuring the safety and quality of the food supply chain, supporting this day is not only logical but imperative. World Food Safety Day is an appropriate time to reflect on our work in food safety and crisis preparedness and to recognize our members’ commitment to providing safe food for our collective customers. </p><p>This year marks the seventh observance of World Food Safety Day, founded by the World Health Organization in 2018. As a global public health issue, safe food and water is emphasized even though these are ongoing and constant priorities for our industry. <span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span></p><p>The theme of “<a href="https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-food-safety-day/2024" target="_blank">Prepare for the Unexpected</a>” reminds us to focus on food safety during normal business operations and during unexpected situations, which our industry is very adept at navigating. Natural disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires and earthquakes are events that have impacted almost every region in the U.S. FMI members consistently rise to the occasion to support communities in times of need with necessities like safe food and water. This year, we are reminded to plan for the unexpected and make sure the safety of food and water is a priority. <span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span></p><p>Of course, food safety is of utmost importance 365 days of the year − not just during times of crisis − as evidenced by the work of FMI member companies and our industry as a whole. This World Food Safety Day, take the opportunity to remind your employees and customers of your commitment to food safety on June 7 and all other days of the year. <span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span></p><p>For more information, visit the <a href="https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-food-safety-day/2024" target="_blank">World Health Organization</a> website. <span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span></p><h5>Additional Resources:</h5><ul type="disc"><li data-list="0" data-level="1"><a href="https://www.fmi.org/industry-topics/crisis-management">FMI Crisis Management Resources</a></li><li data-list="0" data-level="1"><a href="https://www.fightbac.org/food-safety-during-power-outages/" target="_blank">Food Safety during Severe Weather</a> (PFSE)</li><li data-list="0" data-level="1"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/food-safety-during-a-power-outage.html" target="_blank">Food Safety for Power Outages</a> (CDC)</li><li data-list="0" data-level="1"><a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/protect-food-and-water-during-hurricanes-and-other-storms" target="_blank">Food and Water Safety during Power Outages and Floods</a> (FDA)</li><li data-list="0" data-level="1"><a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/emergency-preparedness" target="_blank">Emergencies and Food Safety</a> (USDA)</li></ul>
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