Doha: Held under the theme "Food Safety - Science in Action," the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has organized a series of activities to mark World Food Safety Day. This event, observed globally on June 7, emphasizes the crucial role of science in ensuring food safety and protecting consumer health.
According to Qatar News Agency, this year's activities underscore the importance of reducing foodborne illnesses and highlight that everyone shares responsibility for food safety, from farm to fork. As part of the observance, MoPH launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about food safety and promote preventive practices against food-related risks.
Director of the Food Safety Department at MoPH, Wasan Abdulla Al Baker, remarked on Qatar's ongoing efforts to enhance food safety, emphasizing its significance as an essential component of food security. She noted that food safety is instrumental in curbing the spread of foodborne diseases and highlighted World Food Safety Day's role in educating individuals on prevention strategies.
Al Baker further explained that the department has made strides in adopting a science-based approach to bolster the national food safety system. This includes capacity building in risk assessment and implementing activities that allow for effective responses to food incidents. An internal scientific research team has been established to prioritize food safety research and oversee studies aligned with the Ministry's goals. The department has also expanded its laboratory services to support these initiatives.
A workshop titled "The Role of Science in Supporting Food Safety Regulatory Decisions" was organized at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City as part of the day's activities. The workshop covered the importance of scientific data in policy formulation and decision-making, as well as exchanging expertise among relevant parties. Topics included Qatar's scientific framework for food analysis, global research trends, and surveillance systems for early detection of foodborne disease outbreaks.
Additionally, MoPH, in collaboration with the Shafallah Centre for Persons with Disabilities, hosted a children's drawing competition on food safety. The artwork was displayed at the World Food Safety Day exhibition. A bilingual lecture for Shafallah Centre staff was also conducted, focusing on food safety principles and disease prevention.
The celebrations extended to an educational event for children at Qatar Mall, aimed at fostering a culture of food safety. Through interactive activities like educational games and microscope demonstrations, children were introduced to healthy practices and the importance of food safety. Symbolic gifts were distributed to reinforce these lessons.