Safe and nutritious food plays an essential role in providing for the health and wellbeing of people around the world, as well as supporting communities by driving economic development and alleviating poverty. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The special dietary foods industries are proud to provide people with the essential safe and nutritious foods they need to live, grow and thrive, as well as support the Sustainable Development Goals of zero hunger, good health and wellbeing through building partnerships for food safety. The quality and safety of food products is, and remains, an absolute priority for our industry.

During the current public health crisis, we have put all necessary measures in place to ensure that our foods for special dietary use, such as infant formulas and foods for special medical purposes, are available to provide for the specific nutritional requirements of those that need them most.

Since 1973, ISDI has supported the work of Codex Alimentarius to establish science-based food standards, guidelines and codes of practice that ensure food safety and quality. As an international organisation, we are committed to continue working with regulators, policy-makers and other stakeholders to improve the health and wellbeing of current and future generations, and enhance food security.

Our members around the world work together with national authorities to ensure safe and nutritious foods are available for people with special dietary needs, providing support in regulating food safety along the entire food chain and ensuring international standards are met or even surpassed. Our industry goes further in supporting food security by using sustainably managed and renewable resources, more efficient operations, waste management and environmentally-friendly packaging. Moreover, ISDI members form partnerships for sustainable food production and encourage their partners to adopt best practices.

We welcome the second World Food Safety Day as an opportunity to recognise the people who help keep our food safe and celebrate the role of safe and nutritious food in providing for the health and wellbeing of people around the world.

Download the statement here

Read more about World Food Safety Day