Food safety at the heart of food system transformation
Published: Sep 18, 2021
Photo: Prasad
Consumption of unsafe food by low-income populations stems from a combination of factors including high exposure to environmental contaminants, poor access to potable water, cohabitation with animals amongst many others. Maize harvest, Ranikot-Mandi, Himachal Pradesh.
Abstract: Unsafe food does not nourish, it harms. Food cannot be considered nutritious if it is not safe. Harmful effects of unsafe food would make it impossible to achieve desired nutrition objectives. Thus, food, if not safe, is not food. While this argument may seem straightforward, given the paucity of evidence and data on foodborne illnesses, food safety receives little attention. It only comes into focus during major outbreaks of foodborne diseases (FBD) causing death, scandals involving deliberate food adulteration, trade bans or widespread consignment rejection due to noncompliance to standards of importing countries. The fact is food safety is a serious public health concern and is central to building a nation’s health.
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What is ...
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Brix measurement can be taken in a hand-held device that determines pure sucrose content in water. The Brix scale is used to measure sugar content in substances such as soft drinks, fruit juices and tomato concentrates.
Farmers who operate under structural constraints such as access to sub-optimal amounts of resources, technology and markets are collectively called smallholder farmers. Smallholdings are those farms with a low asset base and operating in less than 2 hectares of cropland.
The Codex Alimentarius, or "Food Code" is a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of practice adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The Commission, also known as CAC, is the central part of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme and was established by FAO and WHO to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade.
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It is about rebuilding agriculture through science and providing the know-how to governments about environmental governance and rule of law, transforming the finance and economic sectors and leveraging the power of digital technologies. ||