Food Safety from Farm to Fork
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 --- (16-06-2026) - The 2026 World Food Safety Day Organising Committee has intensified public awareness campaigns in Lusaka, urging stronger food safety practices and reinforcing that safe food is a shared responsibility that begins on the farm and ends at the consumer’s table.
The campaign is being coordinated by the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency in collaboration with the Lusaka City Council, the Ministry of Health, the National Food and Nutrition Commission, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the CUTS International Zambia, among other partners. The programme brings together coordinated sensitisation activities aimed at improving food safety practices among producers, traders, and consumers.
Speaking during media engagements and public awareness activities, committee chairperson Brian Hatyoka and Lusaka City Council Senior Public Health Officer Paul Chikwanda said the campaign is designed to strengthen understanding of safe food handling and reduce cases of foodborne diseases through a “farm to fork” approach.
The duo said unsafe food remains a serious public health concern, contributing to illnesses, deaths, increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and weakened consumer confidence stressing that food safety is not only a technical issue but a daily necessity that affects every household.
“Unsafe food remains a serious public health challenge, contributing to illnesses, deaths, increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and weakened consumer confidence. Food safety is not only a technical issue but a daily necessity that affects every household.”
Hatyoka and Chikwanda called for coordinated action across the entire food value chain urging to adopt good agricultural practices, processors to implement strong food safety management systems, traders and retailers to maintain proper hygiene and storage standards, regulators to strengthen inspections and enforcement, and consumers to practice safe food handling at household level.
As part of the campaign, the and the Lusaka City Council environmental health teams conducted inspections and sensitisation exercises at Lusaka City Market, Mtendere Market, and Kamwala Market.
Traders dealing in meat, fish, vegetables, restaurants, and cooked foods were engaged on hygiene standards and compliance requirements.
However, she noted that limited access to clean water continues to undermine hygiene compliance in markets, making it difficult for some traders to consistently meet required standards.
Sakala warned that contamination at source compromises the safety of final products, stressing that where raw materials are unsafe, the final food product cannot be guaranteed safe for consumption.
Traders were urged to source food from certified suppliers, maintain clean premises, use safe water, and separate raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination.
She also encouraged consumers to remain vigilant by checking expiry dates, avoiding unknown sources, and ensuring proper storage and handling at household level.
She also said using radio programmes and public interviews to expand awareness, emphasizing that food safety depends on shared responsibility across the entire food chain.
Sakala clarified that environmental health enforcement is mainly carried out by local authorities under the Ministry of Local Government, with technical support from the Ministry of Health.
She added that inspections are conducted throughout the year, not only during commemorative events.
He noted that while compliance levels have improved due to sustained inspections and sensitisation, some traders still show partial adherence to standards.
The official emphasized that food safety goes beyond trade and speaks directly to public health protection, adding that continuous enforcement remains essential to ensure safe food for all.
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