Vietnam joins the World Food Safety Day: Science in Action

On June 7th, the National Institute of Animal Sciences (NIAS), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the World Health Organization (WHO), organized a seminar in response to World Food Safety Day.

With the theme "Science in Action," this year’s seminar highlighted the central role of science in ensuring food safety, from farm to table. The event called for close coordination among the public sector, producers, the scientific community, and consumers in applying scientific solutions in practice, contributing to protecting public health and developing a sustainable and resilient food system.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Pawin Padungtod, Senior Technical Coordinator of the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) program at FAO Vietnam, emphasized, "Science provides us with the evidence and tools to prevent diseases originating from unsafe food. The current challenge is to translate that knowledge into coordinated and consistent action.

This includes strengthening food safety standards, practicing hygiene from farm to table, investing in training for food handlers, and ensuring a rigorous monitoring system. Only through comprehensive, science-based efforts can we truly prevent diseases caused by unsafe food."

Food safety remains a significant concern in Vietnam, with risks such as microbial contamination, pesticide residues, and the unauthorized use of additives still present throughout the supply chain. These risks not only threaten consumer health but also have the potential to hinder the competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products in the global market.

Dr. Fred Unger, ILRI Representative for the Asia region, emphasized the need to collaborate with partners and governments to develop tools and organize practical training for farmers and food processors to adopt safer practices. Science only becomes effective when applied at the grassroots level.

From the perspective of WHO Vietnam, food safety can be achieved through concrete actions such as the “Five Keys to Safer Food,” which include: maintaining hygiene, keeping raw and cooked foods separate, cooking thoroughly, storing food at safe temperatures, and using safe water and raw materials.

Science is at the heart of food safety. It helps us understand what makes food unsafe and guides us on how to prevent foodborne diseases. The theme of World Food Safety Day on 7 June 2025 draws attention to the use of scientific knowledge as key to reducing illness, cutting costs and saving lives.

World Food Safety Day 2025 in Vietnam conveys a clear and unified message: food safety is a shared responsibility of the entire society. Only when science is applied practically and in a coordinated manner can we build a safe, resilient food system and establish strong trust with consumers.

The seminar attracted over 200 students from Hanoi Law University and the Vietnam Women’s Academy to participate in forums and open debate sessions, demonstrating the growing engagement of youth in the process of developing evidence-based food safety policies.