KUWAIT CITY, May 13: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi affirmed on Tuesday that Kuwait has taken significant steps to bolster its food security and safety framework, beginning with the launch of the National Food Security Strategy and the update of regulations governing imported foods and school canteens.

Speaking at the opening of the 4th Annual Food Safety and Nutrition Summit, Dr. Al-Awadhi emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to improving food systems. The two-day summit, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is organized by the Ministry of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, and the US Embassy in Kuwait. It includes broad participation from representatives across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Dr. Al-Awadhi highlighted that the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition regularly conducts inspection campaigns and monitors facilities across Kuwait’s governorates to foster a culture of prevention and ensure adherence to the highest safety standards.

He stressed that ensuring universal access to safe and adequate food, along with improving nutrition and its safety, are essential to achieving both national and international sustainable development goals.

Placing human health and dignity at the center of public policy, he noted, aligns with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes eradicating hunger, enhancing food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture—all aimed at building a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for future generations.

Dr. Al-Awadhi said the summit reflects a shared vision and commitment to improving global food security and public health. He described it as a meaningful platform that emphasizes collective awareness of the importance of food safety and nutrition as cornerstones of health, economic growth, and social development.

Citing scientific studies and real-world experience, he warned that the consequences of neglecting food safety go beyond statistics and are reflected in human suffering. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), foodborne illnesses affect over 600 million people annually, resulting in more than 420,000 deaths. Alarmingly, 125,000 of those deaths—nearly 30 percent—are among children under the age of five, even though children make up just 9 percent of the global population.

These figures, Dr. Al-Awadhi noted, underscore the urgent need to strengthen national and global food safety systems and expand public awareness, especially to protect children, who are particularly vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.

He also pointed to the Gulf region’s investments in training expert personnel in food inspection and laboratory analysis as a critical factor in advancing national food security—a "priceless investment" for a healthier and more sustainable future.

The health minister praised international cooperation, especially the efforts of UN-affiliated bodies, the United States, and other partners in supporting Kuwait’s development of effective food security and safety systems.

In her remarks at the summit, U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait Karen Sasahara emphasized the strong and expanding bilateral relationship between Kuwait and the United States, particularly in agriculture and food security. She noted that bilateral trade in this sector reached $275 million last year, with a total of $3.6 billion in trade between the U.S. and GCC countries.

Ambassador Sasahara said that American agricultural sector representatives regularly engage with their Kuwaiti counterparts to explore the application of US technologies and products in advancing sustainable agricultural solutions.

She explained that the summit seeks to deepen mutual understanding and align visions on best practices in food safety and security between the United States and GCC countries. This year’s theme focuses on food safety as a fundamental pillar of community health and sustainable food security.

The ambassador also described the summit as an opportunity to enhance U.S.-Kuwait collaboration and to strengthen partnerships with other participating nations in areas of food security and sustainable agriculture.

She acknowledged shared health challenges, including obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, faced by both the US and GCC nations. The United States, she said, is working to improve its food system’s nutritional quality by addressing the root causes of these issues and promoting international cooperation.

The summit includes expert-led panel discussions featuring specialists in food security, health, and agriculture from the United States, the United Nations, and the GCC. Topics include national policy development and strategies for enhancing food safety and nutrition across the region.