Vietnam marks World Food Safety Day 2025: 'Food Safety – Science in Action'
The National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the World Health Organization (WHO), held a forum today to mark World Food Safety Day 2025, under the theme 'Food Safety: Science in Action.'
The forum message puts science at the heart of food safety—from farm to table. It calls for stronger collaboration among governments, producers, academia, and consumers to apply science-based solutions that improve public health and build more sustainable, resilient food systems. Effective food safety and quality control systems are not only essential to safeguarding health and well-being, but also to supporting economic development and improving livelihoods by enhancing access to domestic, regional, and international markets.
Food safety remains a significant public health concern in Vietnam. Challenges such as microbiological contamination, pesticide residues, and unauthorized additives persist in the food supply chain, posing serious risks to health and limiting the global competitiveness of Vietnamese food products.
The forum welcomed more than 200 university students from Hanoi Law University and the Women’s Academy, who joined open forums and debates that reflected growing youth engagement in food safety and science-based policymaking.
Pawin Padungtod, Senior Technical Coordinator of the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Programme, FAO Viet Nam, echoed the call for action:
“Science provides us with the evidence and tools to prevent foodborne illnesses—we already have the knowledge to reduce these risks. The challenge now is turning that knowledge into coordinated, consistent action at every level of the food system. This includes strengthening food safety standards, improving hygiene practices from farm to table, investing in training for food handlers, and ensuring strong surveillance systems. Only through collective, science-driven efforts can we truly prevent foodborne diseases.”
Sangjun Moon, Health Security and Emergencies Team Coordinator, WHO in Vietnam, reinforced the importance of practical tools and public education:
“Safe and nutritious food is essential to good health. But science shows us that food can become contaminated in ways that threaten health, livelihoods, education, and economies. Food safety can be achieved through practical measures such as the Five Keys to Safer Food: Keep clean, separate raw and cooked, cook thoroughly, keep food at safe temperatures, and use safe water and raw materials.”
From the perspective of youth engagement, Nguyen Hoang Phuong, Secretary of the Youth Union, Women’s Academy, stressed the role of the next generation:
“World Food Safety Day reminds us that ensuring safe food is a shared responsibility. Involving students and young professionals is critical to shaping a healthier food future—where safe food is the expectation, not the exception.”
Adding to this, Fred Unger, Regional Representative of ILRI Asia, highlighted the need for practical action:
“We need to work closely with research and government partners to co-develop practical tools and training that help farmers and food handlers adopt safer practices. The power of science lies not just in innovation—but in its adoption at the grassroots.”
The 2025 World Food Safety Day in Vietnam sends a clear and unified message: food safety is a shared responsibility, and science must be actively applied to build food systems that are transparent, resilient, and trusted by all.
Header image: ©2015 CIAT / Georgina Smith
