6 mins read
Food safety is not just a regulatory standard; it is an ethical and moral imperative that touches the lives of billions.
In the realm of food, food safety is not just a Global Standard but a fundamental, impacting global health, economies, and sustainable development. Efforts to promote food safety globally are spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), their mandate is to invite everyone in the food supply chain to play their part in making food safe – from farm to plate. These efforts are underpinned by various internationally and nationally recognised food safety Standards to provide a more consistent and structured approach to total food safety management at large.
Meet food safety compliance at the highest level
Several highly regarded food safety Standards including BRCGS, Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000), International Food Standard (IFS) and Safe Quality Food (SQF) can all be categorised under The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) Standards. GFSI drives continuous improvement in food safety management through its GFSI benchmarks. The benchmarks are a set of common criteria defined by food safety experts, with the objective of making food manufacturing safe and compliant.
GFSI Standards are one of many groupings that form part of the overall ISO 22000 – the global food safety management standard. The basis of ISO 22000 is Codex Alimentarius HACCP, which took an American space program called HACCP (hazard analysis and critical control points) and made it an internationally accepted, minimum baseline for all things food safety. It is the 7 principles of food safety HACCP and application steps that make up the global ISO 22000 standard.
The staggering impact of unsafe food
Each year, unsafe food claims an estimated 420,000 lives and sickens one in ten people globally.¹ These are not just numbers but a stark reminder of the human cost of negligence and the urgent need for action. Unsafe food not only affects individual health but also places a significant burden on national economies, costing Australia almost AUD $2.5 billion, annually.² The ripple effect of food–borne diseases hampers progress towards food security, human health, economic prosperity, and sustainable development.
The multi-faceted role of Food Safety
Food safety is inherently linked to various aspects of society and development. It is crucial for ensuring food security, improving human health, driving economic growth, facilitating market access, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Safe, nutritious, and sufficient food promotes healthy lives and sustains a healthy environment for all.
A collective responsibility
Food safety is undoubtedly a shared responsibility. This is why it is a call to action for everyone involved in the food chain to take definitive steps towards ensuring food safety. This includes, but is not limited to, farmers, food producers, governments, food suppliers and retailers, cooks, and consumers.
In an ideal world if all industry players adhere to strict actionable steps, there is scope for a long-term sustainable future. Some examples of how key industry players are involved and should act include:
How can we really make a difference?
The FAO and WHO have provided a guide that outlines 5 steps we all must take to ensure food safety³ and potentially help make food safety a sustained reality:
- Ensure food is safe: Governments need to ensure safe, nutritious food for all which includes adhering to international Standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, helping countries align with global best practices, ultimately leading to a safer food supply chain worldwide.
- Grow food safe: Food producers are on the frontline to keep our food safe. Adopting good practices such as limiting food wastage is crucial to ensure a sufficient supply of safe food while minimising environmental impacts and adapting to climate change.
- Keep food safe: For business operators in the food industry, implementing preventive controls is a fundamental part of the job. Programs like HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) are designed to identify, evaluate, and control significant food-safety hazards.
- Check the food is safe: Access to clear, reliable information about the nutritional content and potential disease risks associated with food choices is crucial. Investments in consumer education about food safety can substantially reduce foodborne diseases.
- Team up for safety: By working together, we can create a safe, sustainable food supply chain that benefits not just the economy, but every individual it nourishes. Adopting a leading global certification scheme such a as FSSC 22000, which has scopes recognised by GFSI and accepted around the world can provide business operations with competitive efficiencies on a worldwide basis.
A comprehensive ecosystem
In conclusion, food safety is a comprehensive ecosystem involving various stakeholders across the food supply chain. From farm to plate, each player has a critical role to ensure the food we consume is safe, nutritious, and sustainable. Remember, when it comes to food safety, we are all in this together.
Sources:
¹ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety
² https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/10/foodborne-disease-costs-australia-nearly-2-5-billion-per-year/
³ https://www.fao.org/newsroom/story/5-steps-we-all-must-take-to-ensure-food-safety/en
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