An increasing number of Moldovans suffer from food poisoning and acute diarrheic diseases because they eat unsafe food. According to the Ministry of Health, the tendency is worrisome. Last year alone, there were recorded over 11,000 hotbeds and over 12,000 persons were affected, IPN reports.

In a news conference on April 7, Minister of Health Mircea Buga said a considerable number of diseases are caused by unsafe food. “This phenomenon is determined by the complexity of the whole food chain and, surely, by the food preferences of consumers,” he stated.

On the occasion of World Health Day, which this year is dedicated to food safety, the authorities aim to stage a series of events to promote a healthy lifestyle. The activities will include the distribution of informative brochures, seminars and workshops and will be carried out in concert with civil society.

World Health Day is celebrated on April 7, when the World Health Organization was founded. This year the WHO highlightis the challenges and opportunities associated with food safety under the slogan “From farm to plate, make food safe”. According to the WHO, more than 2 million people die annually from acute diarrheic diseases caused by unsafe food and water worldwide.