Food Safety by WHO

Here is an interesting article (not full but still, it's awesome) that i have found!

Challenges and developments in food safety

'The safety of food derived from biotechnology needs to be carefully assessed. To provide the scientific basis for decisions regarding human health, new methods and policies to assess such food need to be developed and agreed upon internationally. The assessment should consider health benefits as well as possible negative health implications. Crops modified to resist pests, foods with allergens removed or food with an increase of essential nutrients are possible examples of the former, while anti-microbial markers in some genetically modified foods have been suggested to be an example of the latter. The weighing of potential risks and benefits is an important aspect of assessment of foods derived from biotechnology that has not received much attention in the past. Likewise, clear communication of the basis for safety assessment in this area is generally lacking at national and international levels.

If not properly monitored and assessed, changes in animal husbandry practices, including feeding, may have serious implications for food safety. For example, increased use of ruminant bone and meat meal as feed supplement for cattle appear to have played a role in the emergence of BSE.

Adding low levels of antibiotics to animal feed in order to increase growth rate has raised concern about the transfer of antibiotic resistance to human pathogens from this practice.

Modern intensive agricultural practices contribute to increasing the availability of affordable foodstuffs and the use of food additives can improve the quality, quantity and safety of the food supply. However, appropriate controls are necessary to ensure their proper and safe use along the entire food chain. Pre-market review and approval followed by continuous monitoring are necessary to ensure the safe use of pesticides, veterinary drugs and food additives.

Other challenges, which need to be addressed to help ensure food safety, include the globalization of trade in food, urbanization, changes in lifestyles, international travel, environmental pollution, deliberate contamination and natural and manmade disasters. The food production chain has become more complex, providing greater opportunities for contamination and growth of pathogens. Many outbreaks of foodborne diseases that were once contained within a small community may now take on global dimensions.'

From this article, we can understand that to fully understand food safety as general, it is important that we know the perpetuators who are involved in preserving the natural goodness in our food, and not compromise the safety issues at hand at the same time! From GMOs, animal feeds and to the more specific distribution of various food items, we all have to play a part in ensure the safety of our foods. For example, farmers have to be extremely careful with the use of pesticides and such, as they are the producers of the most basic commercialized products such as animal meat and vegetables. The list goes on. Moving on to the distribution channels, it is the manufacturer's responsibility to ensure that no cross-contamination occurs and all of their equipment are up to date too!

What can we, as consumers do? Of course we can play a part, definitely. Being buyers of such products, we have the expiry dates located on each products to refer to, to make sure that the product we utilize everyday are not expired! That is, playing a huge role in ensuring food we have are safe to consume!

Peace out!

Jia Yong, TA04!