P. A. Chacko
The theme for 2024 is “Right to foods for a better life and a better future.”
It is meant to highlight the fact that food is an important source of life.
Our reflections should include topics like food accessibility, food adequacy, food safety, food adulteration, food diversity, nutritious food, food waste, right to food etc.
Reports say globally there were 828 million people as victims of hunger due to lack or deficiency of nutritious food. By 2024 the number may have shot up to around 900 milion.
India being one of the world’s largest producers of agricultural products, has the ‘distinction’ of wasting 74 million tonnes of foodgrains, amounting to 22% of total foodgrains output(Source: Times of India). Poor storage facilities, pilfering, throwing away heaps of half consumed food during wedding celebratoons and festivities etc are common.
Many Foodgrain shops have rodents feasting on food grains and such grains are sold to consumers. It is common sight that hotels and sweetmeat shops display cooked food items uncovered and unprotected.
Markets are getting flooded with adulterated food items. Condiments, spices, fruits, vegetables and such daily consumption items are artificially coloured or adulterated.
It is good to look into reports to see if our daily food items like rice, eggs, millets etc. are made of plastic and imported from neighbouring countries or made in our own undrground factories.
Are the food inspectors on the beat or taking a holdilay in connivance with antisocial elements?
The end result is that medical shops, quacks, doctors and hospitals have a flourishing business. Cancer is on the increase. Digestive and nervous diseases have a heyday due to adulterated food consumption.
Community leaders, social activists, educators and the media have a big role to play in helping to ensure food safety, food accessibility and people’s health.