In cooperation with the Palestinian Consumer Protection Society and the Ministry of Health,
National Beverage Company and Candia sponsor the events of the World Food Safety Day
Ramallah - Under the sponsorship of the National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy (NBC) and Al-Tayf Dairy and Food Products, the Palestinian Consumer Protection Society, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, organized the events of the World Food Safety Day.
The events were taking place in the presence of the Public Relations and Technical Department Coordinator of the National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Capy, Alaa Esawi, the President of the Palestinian Consumer Protection Society, Mr. Salah Haniyeh, the Director of Environmental Health in the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Mr. Nader Barhoush, and the laboratory coordinator at Birzeit University, Mrs. Lina Jarrar and Mr. Issa Al-Baytouni. the food safety expert, and a number of professors from various universities in the country who presented research papers related to food safety, such as Dr. Samer Al-Mudallal and Dr. Muhammad Al-Sabah from Al-Najah National University, and Dr. Ziad Ayyad from Al-Quds University, in addition to representatives of institutions specialized in food safety and public health.
In this context, Nader Barhoush, Director of Environmental Health at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, stressed that maintaining safe and healthy food for consumers is one of the most important priorities of the Ministry of Health, explaining that the "World Food Safety Day" is very important as it plays an important role in introducing people to the meaning of food safety. He added, "We are keen in the Palestinian Ministry of Health, in cooperation with all ministries, to monitor all foodstuffs from the field to the consumer, inside restaurants or chain homes to ensure safe and healthy food for the Palestinian consumer."
On his part, Mr. Salah Haniyeh, President of the Consumer Protection Association, stressed the importance of raising awareness among the Palestinian consumers of the importance of food safety through educational programs and activities that contribute to changing bad eating habits. “In the Consumer Protection Association, we are keen to monitor the market and take samples for examination to ensure they are safe and healthy, in order to provide the best to the Palestinian consumer,” he added.
Haniyeh said during his speech: “Now, more than ever, in light of the spread of diseases and viruses around the world, it is very important to promote our efforts to keep products safe for consumption, which is the responsibility of all of us.”
On his part, Mr. Alaa Esawi, Public Relations and Technical Department Coordinator of NBC, said during a speech he deliver in the occasion, “ensuring food safety is a shared responsibility. Our continuous partnership in this field with the Consumer Protection Society and the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s sponsorship of this event aim to emphasize an approach that seeks to provide the highest levels of quality to the Palestinian consumers, as we at NBC are keen to support all activities and initiatives that concern food safety and the Palestinian consumer, adding, “this day comes to play an important role in drawing attention and strengthening efforts to prevent and manage foodborne risks, and to contribute to food security, which in turn contributes to economic prosperity, market access, and sustainable development.”
Al-Esawi added, “we in NBC are committed to quality standards and adhere to Palestinian and international standards in manufacturing our products, which go through a series of continuous development processes and a strenuous effort through our technical crews and teams to ensure the highest standards of quality and food safety in our products that we supply to the Palestinian market to reach the Palestinian consumer who always deserves the best.
Al-Esawi praised the efforts of the Palestinian Consumer Protection Society, and its constant keenness to ensure that the Palestinian consumer, taking care of his interests, preserving and defending his rights are among its priorities. He praised their supervisory work to ensure food safety in the markets and follow up the Palestinian product journey to ensure that the best and safest products reach the Palestinian consumer.
"It is noteworthy that World Food Safety Day is a day approved by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on June 7th, 2019 under the slogan “Safe Food Today for a Healthy Tomorrow.” This day aims to remind that food safety is part of achieving food security and good health. Emphasizing that food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, food industry companies, producers and consumers alike.