Food safety matters to every Canadian - from our farms to our grocery stores to our kitchen tables. This World Food Safety Day, under the theme "From burden to solutions - safe food everywhere," we recognize how data about the impact of foodborne illness on health, livelihoods, education and economies can help drive cost-effective and science-based solutions that help keep people safe.
Canada's food safety system is among the strongest in the world because it is built on science, collaboration and continuous improvement. Health Canada establishes science‑based standards to protect health, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) verifies their real-world use through inspections, sampling and testing, surveillance, compliance promotion and enforcement across our food system, including imported food.
Data plays a critical role in our approach. Each year, the CFIA tests tens of thousands of food products. Recently released results show very high rates of compliance with food safety standards. The Agency also conducts approximately 2,800 food safety investigations annually, triggered by inspection findings, laboratory results, consumer complaints, and international alerts. When unsafe food is identified, the CFIA oversees food recalls, informs the public, and verifies that recalled food products are quickly removed from the marketplace.
Preventing foodborne illness requires shared responsibility. The CFIA works closely with food businesses - large and small - providing clear guidance, tools, and support to help them meet regulatory requirements and prevent risks before they arise. Canadians also play an important role by staying informed, reporting concerns and following safe food handling practices at home.
Food safety is also fundamental to food security and economic stability. A safe, trusted food supply reduces waste, protects jobs, supports Canadian agriculture, and strengthens access to global markets.
On World Food Safety Day, we reaffirm our commitment to using science, data, and collaboration to reduce the burden of foodborne illness and advance practical, cost-effective solutions - helping ensure safe food for everyone, everywhere.
The Honourable Marjorie Michel, P.C., M.P.
