KAMPALA, Uganda – The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Food Safety Day, under the global theme “Safe Food for All – Standards are the Backbone.”
The day serves as a reminder of the critical role that food safety plays in ensuring good health, economic prosperity, and sustainable development. As Uganda’s national standards body, UNBS emphasized that food safety is a shared responsibility and that national standards remain the bedrock for ensuring the safety and quality of food across the entire value chain.
Speaking to our reporter, UNBS officials reiterated the Bureau’s commitment to safeguarding public health through the development, promotion, and enforcement of food safety standards. “Our mission is to protect the health and safety of Ugandans by ensuring that the food they consume meets the highest safety standards. Standards are not just technical documents—they are life-saving tools that guide food producers, processors, and consumers toward best practices.”
Over the years, UNBS has developed and harmonized hundreds of food-related standards, covering everything from agricultural practices and food processing to packaging, labeling, and distribution. The Bureau also conducts routine inspections, testing, and certification of food products to ensure compliance.
In line with this year’s theme, UNBS is calling on all stakeholders—government agencies, food businesses, farmers, consumers, and civil society—to work together in strengthening food safety systems.
The Bureau also urged food handlers to adopt Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles to minimize foodborne risks.
World Food Safety Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 to raise awareness about food safety and inspire action to prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe food causes an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses and 420,000 deaths globally each year.
As Uganda continues to expand its agricultural exports and food industries, ensuring safe food through the application of robust standards is key to unlocking economic growth and securing the health of its population.
