Professional Documents
Culture Documents
OF FOOD
SAFETY
First FAO/WHO/AU International
Food Safety Conference
Addis, 12-13 February
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
CONTENTS
PAGES 4–5
INTRODUCTION
PAGES 6–7
KEY MESSAGES
PAGES 8–11
FOOD SAFETY
IS FOOD SECURITY
PAGES 12–15
FOOD SAFETY
IS SCIENCE CENTRED
PAGES 16–19
FOOD SAFETY REQUIRES
SHARED SOLUTIONS
IT IS
PARAMOUNT
PAGES 20–23
FOOD SAFETY
IN EMERGENCIES
THAT WE FIND
SUSTAINABLE
WAYS TO
CULTIVATE,
PRODUCE AND
CONSUME SAFE
AND HEALTHY
FOODS WHILE
PRESERVING
Cover photo: Azerbaijan - Vandam village, fresh fruit is displayed at a roadside OUR PLANET’S
RESOURCES.
produce stand. ©FAO/Tofik Babayev
2
GUATEMALA
Fruit and vegetables stall at the
green market
©Pep Bonet/NOOR for FAO
3
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
INTRODUCTION
Today’s global
challenges are
transforming the way
we produce, market,
consume and think
about food.
PEOPLE DIE
economies from disruptions or
The ramifications of the cost restrictions in global and regional
FOOD
to meet international food safety growing population and increased
standards. Food safety threats food demands compounded by the
4
adverse impacts of environmental Our cities are changing, take on even greater importance in
degradation, climate change, water transforming our food systems. strategic discussions on sustainable
scarcity, and loss of biodiversity, With rapid urbanization, cities need development and growth.
conflict and socio-economic to keep food safety and sustainable
inequities. Hunger is on the food systems planning high on No matter how much our
rise and preventable foodborne their agenda. Today, half of the world continues to evolve and
diseases continue to affect millions world’s population lives within challenge us, the greatest danger
annually. Food safety issues further three hours of a small city and is that we fail to protect and
hinder global food security and town or on only three percent of safeguard our food systems.
our collective goal of achieving the Earth’s surface. By 2050, this It is paramount that we find
the Sustainable Development number is expected to increase sustainable ways to cultivate,
Goals by 2030, and exacerbates the to 60 percent. This means that produce and consume safe and
poverty cycle affecting the most the issues of food safety, food healthy foods while preserving
vulnerable populations. production and distribution will our planet’s resources.
5
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
KEY
MESSAGES
Food safety is an NIGER
A fruit vendor at the
integral part of Maradi market.
©FAO/Giulio Napolitano
the Sustainable
Development Goals.
When food is not safe, human
development simply cannot
take place. In its plan of
action for people, planet and
prosperity, the 2030 Agenda
calls for everyone, in particular
the poor and vulnerable, to
have access to safe, nutritious
and sufficient food all year
round. It pledges to ensure Agriculture is under
healthy lives and promote pressure, and food
well-being, which are essential
to sustainable development. production is changing
with consequences for
Unsafe food takes a food safety.
huge toll on human
In a world of accelerating
health and the economy. change, the need for food to be
Every year more than 600 safe remains a constant. As the
million people fall ill and world is facing an unprecedented From production to
420 000 die from eating convergence of pressures from consumption - food
food contaminated with socio-economic, environmental
bacteria, viruses, parasites, and political fronts, a shift towards safety is a shared
toxins or chemicals. sustainable agricultural practices responsibility.
Unsafe food accounted for across all sectors and the whole
33 million disability-adjusted supply chain is required to ensure Food safety is everyone’s
life years in 2010. As for the a viable, sufficient and nutritious responsibility. Today, food is
economic price tag, unsafe food supply of safe food. Such a change produced and processed in
costs low-and middle-income must minimize environmental greater volumes and distributed
economies alone about US$ impacts, mitigate climate change, over greater distances than ever
95 billion in lost productivity and promote economic growth and before. Widespread collaboration
annually and can curtail trade. social equity. and contributions of all actors
6
THERE IS NO
FOOD SECURITY
WITHOUT FOOD
SAFETY, WHICH IS
THE BASE FOR
HEALTHY DIETS
AND LIVES
José Graziano da Silva
FAO Director-General
7
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
FOOD SAFETY IS
FOOD SECURITY
If it is not safe, it is not food. Food security is
achieved when all people, at all times, have
physical and economic access to food that meets
their dietary needs for an active and healthy life.
Food safety plays a critical role across the four
dimensions of food security – availability, access,
utilization and stability.
8
continue to pose public their livelihood and foster economic
health risks and lead to trade development in rural communities.
disruptions with substantial
economic and social costs. PROTECTING HEALTH,
Opportunities of the global FACILITATING TRADE
food market are lost to Codex Alimentarius
countries that are unable Consumer protection has existed
to meet international food since ancient times. The Assyrians
THERE IS NO safety standards. determined weights and
measurements for cereals, the
FOOD SECURITY In addition, at the local level,
farmers and producers who meet
Egyptians used scrolls as labels
for certain foods, the Greeks
WITHOUT consumers’ growing demands for inspected beer and wine to ensure
FOOD SAFETY
more sustainably-produced foods it was in good condition, and the
have the opportunity to improve Romans had a State system
9
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
FOOD SAFETY IS
FOOD SECURITY
FOOD SAFETY
consumers remains the same.
HUNDREDS OF
entire production chain, allowing
governments to establish hundreds of internationally
OF PRACTICE
and trade for over 50 years. The Codex Alimentarius is made
Since 1963, Codex has developed up of over 300 texts that range
10
from general to specific standards food is safe to eat regardless of the safe and of the expected quality.
and include a vast number of borders that it has crossed. Each year, the impact of unsafe
numerical limits for additives, food causes production loses of
contaminants, pesticides residues INVESTING IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD around USD 95 billion in low-
and veterinary drugs. SYSTEMS PAYS OFF. and middle-income economies.
Sustainable food systems are the Safe food production improves
Codex is, therefore, the invisible future of food and agriculture. sustainability by reducing food
link between those working in FAO supports governmental waste and by enabling market
the food chain and the consumer. authorities, local industry and all access and productivity, which
The Codex Alimentarius is vital for those in supply chains to ensure drives economic development and
governments, industries and other that the food available on domestic poverty alleviation, especially in
actors in helping to ensure that and international markets is rural areas.
11
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
FOOD SAFETY IS
SCIENCE-CENTRED
Science-based STRATEGY AND SCIENCE:
decision-making FAO’S FOOD SAFETY APPROACH
FAO works closely with its
increases public Members and international
health and protects food safety experts to provide
guidance for developing and
trade. Risk assessment emerging countries so that “the
provides policy best available evidence” is used
to inform food safety decisions.
makers with the This guidance is tailored to
information and specific country needs, especially
those that may be data poor or
evidence they have less mature control systems
need for effective and are keen to promote highly
participative approaches to foster
and transparent ownership of the process and ZIMBABWE
decision-making, results. The availability of agreed Strengthening controls
decision-making tools facilitates of food safety threats,
contributing to better an inclusive and transparent plant and animal
pests and diseases for
food safety outcomes process for food safety decisions, Agricultural
based on a broad set of factors productivity and trade
and improvements in rather than a single consideration.
in Southern Africa.
©FAO/Jekesai
public health. FAO and Njikizana
Making sound strategic decisions
WHO expert scientific is the primary responsibility of
bodies provide the food safety risk managers, who
must weigh multiple criteria evidence to prioritize to food
most robust and and sometimes complex risk safety in their countries. Also in
up-to-date scientific interactions. Decisions often determining appropriate action,
require balancing food safety decision-makers often need to
advice available. priorities with resources, following consider the consequences relating
multiple policy recommendations to more than one risk factor, for
and selecting the most appropriate example, the multiple impacts on
intervention to minimise risks. public health, trade, food access
To be effective in building strong and security.
food safety programmes, food
safety risk managers need to Science is central to the work of
influence high-level decisions FAO on food safety and quality
based on best available data and along the supply chain. In close
12
collaboration with WHO, FAO pathogens. In developing high
provides neutral and independent quality globally relevant scientific
scientific advice as the essential advice, consideration is given
basis for the international food to the entire food production
safety standards, guidelines and chain as appropriate as well as all
codes of practice established relevant and accessible data and
by the Codex Alimentarius regular updates are made to the
Commission, and for supporting methods and approaches used to
the development of modern
food control systems by national
ensure consistency with the most
recent developments. Better data
SAFE FOOD IS
authorities such as whole genome is needed to understand the UNDERPINNED
BY SCIENCE
sequencing for epidemiological far-reaching impacts of
surveillance for foodborne unsafe food.
13
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
FOOD SAFETY IS
SCIENCE-CENTRED
SCIENCE IS
(JEMNU) was established in
2010 to strengthen the role of
SUPPLY CHAIN
and trade-inclusive global
nutrition standards.
14
SENEGAL
Inspecting melons
using a magnifier in a
cold room storage.
©FAO/Marco Longari
CORE
PRINCIPLES
FOR SCIENTIFIC
ADVICE
• Soundness:
scientific excellence,
evidence-based, rigorous
and repeatable
• Responsibility:
accountability, safeguarding
the integrity of the process
• Objectivity:
includes neutrality of the
experts and of the advice
provided
• Fairness:
of the process, and respect
for all participants and their
scientific views
• Transparency:
of both the process and the
scientific advice
• Inclusiveness:
balance of skills and
expertise, minority scientific
opinion, geographical and
socioeconomic balance
without compromising
excellence
15
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
“ONE HEALTH”
formulate strategies that promote vehicle for enabling farmers
the application of Good Hygienic to understand and adhere
16
MYANMAR
Supporting
conflict-affected
communities in
northern Rakhine.
©FAO/Hkun Lat
to good practices. FFS are Food safety and livestock Food producers play a vital
developed to fully integrate food Improving the safety of foods of role in stopping the spread
hygiene with production animal origin involves guidance of antimicrobial resistance.
issues such as integrated pest on good practices in animal Antimicrobial drugs are essential
management techniques. feeding, animal husbandry, to protect both human and animal
➨➨FAO works with national slaughter and handling and health. However, antimicrobials,
institutions to build their processing of animal products. if misused in the livestock,
capacities to design and implement FAO experts from animal aquaculture or crop production
programmes to improve food production, animal health and sectors, can contribute to
safety in the primary production of food safety unit work together antimicrobial resistance (AMR) –
fruit and vegetables. This includes to ensure a science-based and one of the world’s most pressing
programmes focusing on good integrated approach to managing public health threats. AMR causes
practices on farm as well as food safety risks related to foods a reduction in the effectiveness
on monitoring pesticide and of animal origin, including of medicines, making infections
other contaminants. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). and diseases difficult or
17
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
18
EGYPT
Promoting and
developing national
potential on effective
sustainable
non-conventional
water use practices for
integrated agriculture-
aquaculture
production systems.
©FAO/Khaled
Desouki
19
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
FOOD SAFETY
IN EMERGENCIES
International
emergency response
systems ensure
coordinated action
when combatting
outbreaks of
foodborne illness
globally. FAO jointly
with WHO leads
global information
and prevention
networks involving
national food safety
MOLDOVA
authorities and experts Biochemical
to prevent, prepare for examination for
diagnosis of bacterial
diseases
and respond to food (salmonellosis,
colibacillosis).
safety emergencies. ©FAO/Dorin Goian
SAVES LIVES
coordinate the International managers to prevent foodborne
Food Safety Authorities Network illness and save lives by launching
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targeted product recalls and 80 countries; and an outbreak of Emergency Contact Points in
consumer warnings. listeriosis linked to ready-to-eat importing countries of the details
meat products produced in of the affected products to stop
A number of recent events have South Africa and exported to distribution. INFOSAN thus
highlighted the important role this 15 countries. During both of relies on proactive participation
network plays to support national these events, national INFOSAN of members around the world
response activities. For example, Emergency Contact Points to implement appropriate risk
two such events started in 2017 provided key information such management measures.
and continued into 2018: an as destination countries of
outbreak of salmonellosis linked contaminated products to the Today, INFOSAN connects
to infant formula produced in INFOSAN Secretariat, which, nearly 600 members from 188
France and exported to more than in turn, notified INFOSAN Member States together and its
21
THE FUTURE OF FOOD SAFETY
FOOD SAFETY
IN EMERGENCIES
IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION OF
FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS
The shift in food safety from
‘reaction and response’ to
‘prediction and prevention’
requires holistic and structured
approaches to collecting and
analysing intelligence for early
identification of emerging
issues. FAO works with different It is difficult to estimate the burden allow authorities to better
partners and Member Countries of foodborne diseases: only a small understand major food safety risks
to develop such intelligence fraction is recognised by concerned and to refocus prevention efforts.
and foresight to inform broad authorities. The ultimate goal It also allows early detection of
food chain decisions and of food safety and public health adverse food safety events and
provide guidance on key officials is to prevent such prompt and effective response.
emerging issues. outbreaks. Surveillance systems FAO collaborates with WHO in
a number of activities aimed at
prevention and management of
food safety emergencies.
INCREASE UNDERSTANDING
OF DECISIONS TO ASSESS SUPPORT AND MANAGE RAISING AWARENESS TO ARM
FOOD SAFETY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED RISKS
CONSUMERS
Outbreaks of foodborne illnesses
and food recalls can have
wide-reaching consequences and
impact on consumer confidence
ENABLE PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE in the safety of the food supply.
MAKE MORE INFORMED RISKS AND ENGAGE This calls for enhanced food
JUDGMENTS COMMUNITY safety risk communication
with consumers among all
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stakeholders in the agri-food Mali and FAO launched a
chain, beginning with risk
managers and decision-makers.
two-year capacity development
programme targeting a FAO WORKS
This two-way exchange of
information and opinions
broad range of stakeholders.
Competent authorities, starting
WITH DIFFERENT
between all involved is key
in restoring confidence and
with the national food-safety
authority laboratories,
PARTNERS AND
protecting people’s quality of life. private-sector actors, including MEMBER
COUNTRIES TO
primary producers, consumers’
For example, Mali is a country representatives, to research
that sought to improve its
decision-making approach
institutions, academia, and civil
society representatives were DEVELOP FOOD
to food-safety by adopting
a risk analysis framework.
trained on how to use their
national data to prioritize risks SAFETY
Already having access to relevant
food analysis and consumption
and optimize the management
of those risks. As a result, Mali is
INTELLIGENCE
data, the food-safety authorities
sought FAO’s advice about
now able to build monitoring and
control programmes for domestic
AND FORESIGHT
how to use the data to guide and imported foods based on FOR BETTER
PREPAREDNESS
strategic choices and day-to-day a practical understanding of
food control activities. In 2014, risk analysis.
23
THE FUTURE
OF FOOD
SAFETY
First FAO/WHO/AU International
Food Safety Conference
Addis, 12-13 February
This brochure presents FAO’s work on food safety FAO recognizes that the ramifications of the cost
and the recognition that ready access to safe and of unsafe food go far beyond human suffering.
nutritious food is a basic human right. Food security FAO works with governmental authorities, with
is achieved when all people, at all times, have physical local industry and other relevant stakeholders
and economic access to food that meets their dietary to ensure that regardless of where the food
needs for an active and healthy life. Food safety plays is produced, consumers have the right to
a critical role across the four dimensions of food expect that the food they buy is safe and of
security – availability, access, utilization and stability. the expected quality. This brochure includes
CA3247EN/1/02.19
www.fao.org