Observed annually on June 7, World Food Safety Day is a joint initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness and promote action on food safety worldwide. It’s a reminder that food safety is a shared responsibility from farm to fork, everyone has a role to play in ensuring the food we eat is safe.

Theme Food safety: science in action

Food safety depends on everyone in the supply chain from producers to consumers following good practices and standards based on sound science. Scientific evidence helps us understand how food can become contaminated and guides risk assessments to protect public health. On this World Food Safety Day, we celebrate the vital role of science in ensuring safe food and supporting informed decisions across the global food system.

Supporting Food Safety Through Management System Certification

As a trusted provider of testing, inspection, and certification services, GICG supports the food industry through internationally recognized Food Safety Management System (FSMS) standards, including:

• ISO 22000:2018 Food Safety Management to help organizations identify and control food safety hazards.

  • The Standard consist of establishing a HACCP Plan (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) to ensure safe and wholesome food for your consumers, and to identify various hazards involved during receiving, storage, preparation, transportation and serving of food.

• SS 444:2018 and SS 590:2013 both Standards establish requirements for a food safety management system based on hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP).

• SS 668:2020 Cold Chain Management of Chilled and Frozen foods to strengthen your cold chain ecosystem

• ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems

  • Ensures consistency in delivering high-quality food and services by streamlining operational processes and emphasizing customer satisfaction.

  • Can be integrated with ISO 22000 for a holistic approach to food quality and safety management.

• ISO 14001: Environmental Management Systems

  • Encourages sustainable practices in the food service industry, such as waste reduction, efficient resource use, and minimizing environmental impact.

As consumer demand for transparency increases, implementing strong food safety practices has become a necessity, not a choice.

Benefits of Certification with GICG

Through our certification programs, GICG helps food businesses:

• Identify and control food safety risks
• Improve operational efficiency
• Build consumer trust and confidence
• Protect brand
• Demonstrate compliance with international and local regulations
• Demonstrate social responsibility in sustainable practices to minimize environmental impact. 

Why It Matters

Each year, foodborne diseases affect around 600 million people worldwide. The cost of treatment alone is estimated at USD 15 billion annually. In low and middle income countries, the total economic burden including lost productivity and healthcare costs exceeds USD 110 billion every year.

By supporting rigorous food safety systems, we can:

• Prevent contamination

• Reduce foodborne illnesses

• Enhance global food security

For more information on how GICG can support your company in managing food safety and protecting consumer well-being, visit: www.gicgrp.com