World Food Safety Day 2025 | “Science in Action, Safety on Every Plate”

Every day, millions around the world rely on safe food to live, grow, and thrive. Yet, unsafe food causes approximately 600 million cases of foodborne illness annually, according to WHO. That’s why June 7th, observed as World Food Safety Day, is more than a date—it’s a call to action.

This year’s theme, “Science in Action”, reminds us that the safety of what we eat isn’t a matter of chance. It’s the result of rigorous scientific processes, vigilant monitoring, and collaborative responsibility at every step of the food chain.

From farm to fork, science plays a very crucial role in each and every stage of the food supply chain. In this food supply chain, everyone has a role to play as food safety is a shared responsibility. Farmers adopt good agricultural practices with help from soil and water analysis. Manufacturers use validated test methods to ensure product safety and regulatory compliance. Regulators and auditors depend on scientific data from accredited laboratories. Consumers, too, have power—by reading labels, choosing certified products, and demanding transparency.

In today’s fast-moving world, modern chemical and mechanical techniques are widely used to cultivate and harvest crops. Although these techniques improve yields, they also introduce the risk of carry-forward of pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants to the food that reaches our plates.

To mitigate this risk and deliver safe food, stakeholders across the food supply chain implement rigorous preventive measures. One such critical measure is Chemical Residue Analysis, which is carried out with the help of food testing laboratories like Envirocare Labs. This analysis helps identify pesticide residues, heavy metals, and other contaminants that could pose long-term health risks.

Moreover, food safety testing laboratories play a pivotal role in ensuring food authenticity and GMO screening, verifying that food products are genuine, correctly labeled, and in compliance with regulations. At Envirocare Labs, test reports are enabled with a unique QR Code, which allows customers to authenticate the report and verify its legitimacy—enhancing transparency and trust in food safety documentation.

To support these efforts, advanced technologies are increasingly being adopted. Instruments like ICP-MS/ICP-OES quantify toxic heavy metals in food products, while HPLC determines aflatoxin content in nuts and grains. Cutting-edge techniques such as LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS, equipped with sophisticated analytical techniques like Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry (TQMS), help detect and quantify residues of pesticides, ethylene oxide, antibiotics, plant growth regulators, and more. For GMO detection, RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription PCR) is used to convert RNA into DNA and amplify specific DNA sequences, making it especially effective in identifying and quantifying GMOs in food and feed products.

Together, these technologies highlight how food testing laboratories are actively putting “Science in Action” to ensure food safety.

However, ensuring safety does not end at production. Food products undergo long journeys before reaching our homes, during which they are exposed to environmental conditions and microbial contamination. To address this, appropriate storage conditions and packaging parameters are established to maintain product integrity.

These critical parameters are identified through shelf-life studies and microbiological testing. Shelf-life is no longer just about time—it’s about science-backed prediction. Modern shelf-life studies use accelerated stability chambers, predictive microbiology software, and real-time environmental simulations to determine how long a food product remains safe and effective. At Envirocare Labs, we use climate-controlled incubators to replicate real world conditions and water activity meters to monitor shelf life over time. This empowers manufacturers to make accurate “best before” and “use by” claims, thereby ensuring product safety and quality.

In parallel, microbiological testing has evolved far beyond traditional culturing methods. Technologies such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and ELISA-based rapid kits are transforming the detection of pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli. At Envirocare Labs, we use automated platforms like real-time PCR systems, IDEXX, VIDAS, ELISA and other rapid kits which provide faster turnaround times and enhanced sensitivity—enabling early detection and minimizing public health risks.

Food testing serves as a cornerstone of the food safety ecosystem and is indispensable across the entire food value chain. Its applications span a wide spectrum—from ensuring routine regulatory compliance by Food Business Operators (FBOs) to empowering regulatory bodies in conducting surveillance, inspections, and enforcement actions. This dual function strengthens food safety both proactively and reactively.

Furthermore, food testing supports the entire lifecycle of food—from farm to fork—including domestic supply and international trade. It is particularly important for import and export controls, where countries rely on laboratory reports to verify that incoming and outgoing food products comply with safety standards. This function helps protect public health and avoid international disputes over food quality and safety.

Testing isn’t limited to chemical or biological assessments. It also encompasses food authenticity (e.g., verifying species in meat or origin of spices), microbiological safety (e.g., absence of pathogens like Salmonella or E. coli), and compliance with labelling standards (e.g., allergen declarations or nutritional facts). These components ensure not only safety but also transparency and informed consumer choice.

By providing objective, scientifically-backed data, food testing empowers every stakeholder—FBOs, regulators, exporters, and consumers—to play their part in maintaining a safe and trustworthy food system.

Science-based food safety standards are critical in ensuring uniform quality, enabling global trade, and protecting public health. Some key examples include:

• Codex Alimentarius: A globally recognized set of food standards, guidelines, and codes of practice established by FAO and WHO.
• ISO 22000: A widely adopted international standard for food safety management systems.
• FSSAI (India): Adopts standards harmonized with Codex to regulate domestic food safety and facilitate exports.
• EU Regulation No. 178/2002: Establishes general principles and requirements of food law in the European Union.
• US FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act): Science-based regulations focusing on prevention of food safety issues rather than reactive measures.

These standards not only guide food safety practices but are also harmonizing globally, helping remove trade barriers while ensuring that safety remains paramount for every citizen of the world.

As we reflect on the role of science in ensuring food safety, it’s equally important to recognize the institutions that bring this science to life through rigorous testing and innovation.

On this World Food Safety Day, let’s acknowledge the science working behind the scenes—and the people putting it into action. Food safety is not optional; it’s fundamental to health, sustainability, and economic resilience. Let’s support the systems that make our food safe, every single day.

To learn more about food safety services and scientific testing solutions, visit Envirocare Labs.

At Envirocare Labs, our scientists use state-of-the-art instrumentation and globally accepted methods under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation to test over 20,000+ food parameters. We work across categories—processed foods, spices, dairy, bakery, nutraceuticals, and more—ensuring that science remains at the heart of food safety.