What is the difference between food safety and security?

Food safety and food security are two closely related but distinct concepts.

Food safety refers to the handling, preparation, and storage of food in a way that prevents foodborne illness. This includes practices such as washing hands before handling food, cooking food to the proper temperature, and refrigerating perishable foods. Food safety is important for protecting individuals and communities from foodborne illnesses, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and norovirus.

Food security, on the other hand, refers to the availability of enough food for all people in a society. This includes issues such as food production, distribution, and access to food. Food security is important for ensuring that people have the food they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

While food safety and food security are related, they are not the same thing. Food safety focuses on preventing foodborne illness, while food security focuses on ensuring that people have enough food to eat. Both food safety and food security are important for public health, but they are addressed by different policies and programs.