Importance of milk and food safety underscored

By Henrylito D. Tacio

In just a matter of two weeks this month, at least two celebrations related to food were celebrated.

Last June 1, the international community observed World Milk Day. On this day, the National Dairy Authority held a press conference which discussed the intensified dairy programs in relation to the 8-point socioeconomic agenda of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.

In his opening message, Dr. Gabriel Lagamayo, NDA administrator, said his agency wants to increase dairy production to 500% in the next five years – this means producing 80 million liters of milk annually.

“Milk is not just a complete food for young children, but its benefits extend to adults and senior citizens as well,” he pointed out. “By emphasizing the consumption of milk, we aim to contribute to the overall well-being of our population.

Milk is one of the best foods known to man. It contains a good balance of protein, fat and carbohydrate. Nutritionists say milk is a very important source of essential nutrients, including calcium, riboflavin, phosphorus, vitamins A, B12 and D, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.

In Western countries, people continue to consume milk beyond infancy, using milk produced from cattle, sheep, and goats as a food product. But in developing countries like the Philippines, it is uncommon to see teenagers and adults still drinking milk.

Not a Filipino culture

“Milk isn’t traditionally a part of the Filipino diet,” explained Corazon Cerdena, who conducted the 1997 Formative Research on Milk and Milk Products for the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

“World Milk Day is celebrated all over the world,” said Dr. Lagamano. “(But) milk isn’t our culture. So, hopefully, this is the beginning where World Milk Day is part of our culture. Where we are not only celebrating the production of milk, but we are celebrating the promise of progress in the health and nutrition of our fellowmen.”

The world first “raised a glass” to World Milk Day in 2001. Since then, this annual event has swelled to more than 40 countries and continues to grow. All aspects of milk are celebrated in different ways.

“Milk is one of the most widely produced and valuable commodities on the planet,” the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states. “Containing a powerful mixture of essential nutrients, it fuels food security, nutrition and economic development.”

Food safety

On June 7, the FAO and World Health Organization (WHO) joined together to highlight the focus of this year’s celebration of World Food Safety Day. The emphasis is on the role of established food safety practices and standards which ensure that what people eat are safe to consume.

Unfortunately, some 1.6 million people around the world fall ill daily from eating contaminated food, which kills 420,000 each year.

Food safety has a direct impact on people’s health, according to Dr. Maria Neira, WHO assistant director-general.

Over 200 diseases, from diarrhea to cancers, are caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals.

“We tend to think about food safety only when we get sick, and we should think (about it) more often because foodborne diseases are entirely preventable,” she said in a video message.

“Safe food allows the uptake of nutrients and promotes human development,” Dr. Niera added. “Nobody should die from eating food. These are preventable deaths.”

According to the UN health agency, food safety, nutrition and food security are inextricably linked. Recent estimates indicate that the impact of unsafe food costs low- and middle-income economies around $95 billion in lost productivity each year.

“Food can become contaminated at any point from production to consumption,” the WHO explained. “While the primary food safety responsibility lies with food producers, many food-borne diseases are caused by improperly prepared or mishandled food at home, in food service establishments, markets or even in the farms.”

Philippine experience

The UN health agency commended the Philippines for having a good policy foundation on food safety with the Food Safety Act of 2013 and the Code of Sanitation of the Philippines (Chapter 3). The country also has the National Codex Technical Committee to develop, adopt or localize food safety standards in the country.

FAO has been working with the Philippine government, particularly the Department of Agriculture, to improve the policy environment for food and nutrition security through enforcement of rational food policies, including for food safety and early detection of threats to food and agriculture.

WHO, on the other hand, has been working with the Department of Health on developing a food safety action plan, strengthening risk-based inspection of food establishments, and updating the implementing rules and regulations of the Food Safety Act and Chapter 3-Food Establishments of the Code on Sanitation.

“Food safety is everyone’s business and responsibility,” the WHO and FAO said. “Food safety is not just up to the government or food producers. Let us all work together to make sure that our food is, and remains, safe.” – ###