KATHMANDU: Minister for Health and Food Hygiene Nisha Mehta has said that the government is committed to strengthening public health systems to address foodborne diseases, describing them as a serious public health challenge.
Issuing a message of best wishes on the occasion of World Food Hygiene Day today, Minister Mehta said the government is focused on improving public health through ensuring food safety.
She said the implementation of the Food Hygiene and Standards Act, 2081, has been given high priority to strengthen food safety and hygiene standards in the country.
The minister further stated that efforts will be intensified to strengthen food testing laboratories, expand risk-based market monitoring, and advance necessary policy reforms.
Stressing that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure hygiene across all stages of the food chain—from production to consumption—she said practices such as good agricultural practices, good manufacturing practices, and proper storage systems must be adopted.
According to her, such measures will help ensure the availability of safe and quality food in the market while reducing health risks and the economic burden caused by unsafe food consumption.
Minister Mehta also expressed hope that the day would inspire all stakeholders in the food supply chain, including producers, entrepreneurs, and consumers, to better understand the importance of food safety and to act more responsibly in their respective roles.
The day is being observed globally, including in Nepal, under the theme: “Clean Eating Everywhere, Identifying Foodborne Problems.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 600 million people fall ill each year due to contaminated food, while approximately 420,000 people die prematurely due to foodborne diseases.
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