This compendium includes a section dedicated to safe and healthy food. A safe food supply contributes to food and nutrition security and supports national economies, trade and tourism, stimulating sustainable development. This includes proper food preparation, which can prevent a large share of foodborne diseases. Different governmental departments and agencies, encompassing public health, agriculture, education and trade, need to collaborate and communicate with each other and engage with civil society, including consumer groups, to ensure a safe food supply.

The section only covers aspects of food safety related to the environment, such as household and community hygiene practices and the use of wastewater, excreta and greywater in agriculture.

Access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. Safe food is not contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, toxins, chemicals and/or radionuclides. However, food can become contaminated at any point of production and distribution. A large proportion of foodborne disease incidents are caused by foods improperly or unhygienically prepared or mishandled at home, in food service establishments or markets.