“FDA Commemorates World Food Safety Day 2025”
"FDA Commemorates World Food Safety Day 2025"
“FDA Commemorates World Food Safety Day 2025”
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) recently commemorated World Food Safety Day 2025 at the Mensvic Grand Hotel in Accra. The event, themed “Food Safety: Science in Action,” brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss the importance of food safety and its impact on public health.
In her welcome address, the Dr. Delese Mimi Darko CEO of the FDA emphasized the critical role of science in ensuring food safety. She noted that one in ten people worldwide fall ill each year from consuming unsafe food, resulting in an estimated 600 million illnesses and 420,000 deaths annually. Africa bears a disproportionate share of this burden, with children under five accounting for nearly 30% of all foodborne disease-related deaths.
The FDA CEO highlighted the agency’s commitment to protecting public health through science-driven regulatory practices. She mentioned the Progressive Licensing Scheme (PLS), which supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to progressively meet food safety standards. This approach bridges informal practices into the formal economy, fostering inclusion, accountability, and public trust.
The FDA has also been working to build consumer awareness about food safety. The CEO emphasized that informed consumers make safer decisions and demand higher standards, shaping a culture of safety from the bottom up.
The FDA has been working with various partners, including Trademark Africa (TMA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Health Organization (WHO), to strengthen food safety systems in Ghana and beyond. These partnerships have enabled the FDA to implement robust inspection regimes, laboratory diagnostics, and public education campaigns to prevent foodborne illnesses and protect vulnerable populations.
The FDA’s work on food safety aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
1.reducing food contamination and wastage through improved post-harvest handling, surveillance, and capacity building for food businesses.
2.implementing robust inspection regimes, laboratory diagnostics, and public education campaigns to prevent foodborne illnesses and protect vulnerable populations.
3.expanding scientific infrastructure, including state-of-the-art laboratories, and integrating digital tools for food traceability, lab reporting, and regulatory intelligence.
4.collaborating across borders to harmonize food standards and promote regional integration.
The FDA’s commemoration of World Food Safety Day 2025 serves as a reminder of the importance of food safety in protecting public health. By prioritizing science-driven regulatory practices, building consumer awareness, and collaborating with partners, the FDA is working to ensure that Ghana’s food systems are safe and resilient. As the CEO emphasized, “Let us demonstrate that science is truly in action – in our policies, our research, our daily decisions, and in every meal served to every Ghanaian.
Story by Fada Amakye from Daily Sun online
