26 September marks World Environmental Health Day which has been celebrated every year since 2011.

This year’s theme of ‘Global food safety and sustainability’ aims to support the provision of more safe food, to make use of precious water and nutrient resources and for communities to increasingly value sustainable food production.

Food safety is currently being challenged by global dimensions of food supply chains, the need for a reduction in food waste and efficient use of natural resources such as clean water. As our food supply becomes increasingly globalised, the need to strengthen food safety systems in and between all countries is becoming more and more evident.

Many activities are taking place around the Globe in connection to this big event from Australia to Zimbabwe.

In Scotland, REHIS are celebrating in connection with Fife Council.

Their Environmental Health (Food & Workplace Safety) Team focused on reducing food waste for World Environmental Health Day 2018.

Following a visit to a local Primary School to talk about the importance of reducing food waste, pupils were invited to take part in a poster competition. The challenge was to produce a poster that would encourage people to reduce food waste.

The image of winning poster is above, which Fife Council are planning to incorporate in to future correspondence with food businesses. Information for food businesses in Fife Council can be found at: www.fifedirect.org.uk/foodwasteregs

For more information about World Environmental Health Day and also find out how other countries are celebrating please see the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) website: www.ifeh.org/wehd/