Technical guidance for the implementation of e-notification systems for food control

Technical guidance for the implementation of e-notification systems for food control
Author: ?Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 88
Release: 2022-08-06
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9251365911

Over a third of global agrifood exports cross borders at least twice before reaching the final consumer. The complexity of food supply chains and the growing importance of the global agrifood trade thus creates new and ever greater challenges for the management of food safety. Geographically dispersed foods that have been produced, processed and distributed by multiple actors can pose heightened food safety risks. Tracing the origins of unsafe food is also more complex and time-consuming. For this reason, many nations have implemented more rigorous systems of food control for agrifood imports, while many others need assistance to develop them. To this end, FAO developed this guidance as part of a project entitled 'Digital solutions in support of improved official food control services'. The aim is to provide guidance for the design and implementation of a food control e-notification system, one tailored to national needs and resources. This guidance includes the system’s legal basis, its structure and operational parameters, as well as its infrastructure and human resource requirements.

Author:
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 124
Release:
Genre:
ISBN: 9251391076

Risk Assessment of Food Allergens – Part 4: Establishing exemptions from mandatory declaration for priority food allergens

Risk Assessment of Food Allergens – Part 4: Establishing exemptions from mandatory declaration for priority food allergens
Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2024-02-26
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 924008892X

The Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) requested scientific advice as to whether certain foods and ingredients, such as highly refined foods and ingredients, that are derived from the list of foods known to cause hypersensitivity can be exempted from mandatory declaration. The objective of this fourth meeting was to expand on the recommendations from the first meeting concerning derivatives of food allergens and establish a framework for evaluating exemptions for food allergens. A pro forma process has been developed and tested against allergen derivatives previously granted exemptions in various countries or regions and found to be effective for consideration in future exemption decisions. The Expert Committee recommends that the process outlined in the pro forma process be used to guide any future development and evaluation of derivative exemptions. Establishment of safety based upon this weight of evidence approach is dependent upon consideration of data quality, outcome of the exposure assessment for all intended ingredient uses (specified for exemption), and review by competent authorities (as needed). When safety is established, exemption can be justified.

Author:
Publisher: World Health Organization
Total Pages: 508
Release:
Genre:
ISBN: 9240096884

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption
Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
Total Pages: 124
Release: 2024-10-25
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9240100873

Evolving science and debate concerning the benefits and risks of consuming fish have resulted in confusion over the years, and national and international food safety agencies have recognized the need to provide useful, clear and relevant information in this regard to consumers. In October 2023, FAO and WHO held the second Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption to analyse new scientific evidence on the matter and draw relevant conclusions and recommendations. The overall conclusions of the exercise show that consuming fish provides energy, protein and a range of other nutrients important for health, and that there are benefits related to fish consumption during all life stages (pregnancy, childhood and adulthood). General population studies show that the benefits and individual effects of fish consumption vary depending on overall diet, the characteristics of consumers, and the fish that is consumed.

Food safety in a circular economy

Food safety in a circular economy
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. [Author] [Author]
Total Pages: 116
Release: 2024-08-21
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9251390053

Agrifood systems require sustained growth to maintain food security for the global population, while facing unprecedented pressure from challenges of climate change and resource depletion. In this context, evaluating, holistically planning and transitioning to circularity will be critical to improve sustainability and face those challenges. While circular economy initiatives offer considerable promise in improving sustainability and increasing performance, these benefits are juxtaposed by the increasing evidence that contaminants, physical, microbiological or chemical, can get introduced, persist and potentially lead to unsafe food. Therefore, protecting food safety is key for the success of transitioning our current linear agrifood system to a more sustainable and circular one. This report provides a synthesis of current and emerging evidence of food safety risks in circular agrifood initiatives, with an aim to understand challenges and opportunities to manage and enhance food safety. Food safety has to be an equal performance indicator for any transition, requiring addressing data gaps, focusing research efforts and exploring opportunities for improving food safety outcomes. All parties in the agrifood system need to proactively do their part to ensure agrifood systems develop, by harnessing the innovation in this area, and at the same time produce safe food.

Food safety in the context of limited food availability

Food safety in the context of limited food availability
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. [Author] [Author]
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2024-05-24
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 925138777X

Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) and ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) are used to prevent and treat malnutrition in children. [Author] They are often produced in regions experiencing food insecurity and include edible oils obtained from oleaginous seeds or fruits that must be refined to remove undesirable substances and ensure adequate shelf-life for the product. [Author] However, the formation of the heat-induced contaminants 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) fatty acid esters and glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) may occur during the refining process of edible oils. [Author] 3-MCPD and its fatty acid esters are present in many other foodstuffs and most of the total lifetime exposure is attributed to foods other than LNS/RUTF. [Author] While the only Codex standard developed for 3-MCPD is for liquid condiments containing acid hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, no Codex standards are available for GEs. [Author] This publication provides an overview of risk assessments for 3-MCPD and GEs previously performed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other authorities, based on chronic exposure. [Author] The use of LNS/RUTF is intended to be of finite duration and confined to a specific life stage. [Author] The aim of this report was to provide an assessment to characterize the risk of less-than-lifetime exposure to 3-MCPD (including 3-MCPD fatty acid esters) and GEs via LNS/RUTF in the context of limited food availability. [Author] The thresholds identified herein for concentrations of 3-MCPD and glycidol equivalents in LNS/RUTF products are considered to represent a level of exposure that is of low concern for human health. [Author]

Early warning tools and systems for emerging issues in food safety – Technical background

Early warning tools and systems for emerging issues in food safety – Technical background
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 74
Release: 2023-12-28
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9251384991

Early warning (EW) systems have a critical role in the reduction of risks from various hazards. The capability and capacity to identify early signals and emerging food safety risks, and to provide on-time EW that would allow for the mitigation of related upcoming risks have therefore become vital for national and international authorities and organizations dealing with food safety. The developments in early warning systems show a shift from reactive towards proactive systems. With the rapid development of modern systems fed by numerous, real-time and diverse data, as well as the advancements achieved in artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, increasingly tested and validated digital methods and models have become available for food safety early warning and analysis. This technical background report enhances the awareness of the available evidence-based innovative digital tools and provides technical background information to support their use for proactive food safety early warning.

Risk Based Imported Food Control

Risk Based Imported Food Control
Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.
Total Pages: 169
Release: 2018-06-15
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 925109070X

This FAO manual on Risk based imported food control aims to support competent authorities in improving the effectiveness of the control measures they are overseeing, based on an analysis of their specific country situation. It discusses the different types of approach to managing risks related to imported food, and provides concrete illustrations of how Codex guidelines can be implemented in different ways. While respecting the principles, guidance and objectives agreed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, different options for control measures can be selected and combined to implement a coherent set of import controls to best fit the needs of each country. Different examples, as implemented by a number of countries, are provided to show that there are often several options to reach a common goal. It also provides insights on the legal and institutional frameworks, as well as on the necessary support services to effectively implement risk based food controls.