Food Safety: Global Problem as a Challenge for the Future Avtivities
R. Radovanovic
Book of Abstracts, Asia-Pacific Symposium on Assuring Quality and Safety of Agri-Foods, August 4-6, 2008, Radisson Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
2008
บทคัดย่อ
Food Safety: Global Problem as a Challenge for the Future Avtivities
Food is output of numerous and different activities inside very long and completive “food/nutrition chain” and crucially relates to three important aspects. The aspects being safety, quality and security, represent a basic right of every human. Namely, last few decades mankind has a several very important global problems and among them, certainly, is one of specified aspects – FOOD SAFETY. Why? Because foodborne, as well as waterborne diseases, are major cause of illness and death all around the World. In fact, they are the leading causes of health problems and deaths in developing countries, killing approximately more than 3 million people annually, most of whom are children. However, food safety problems and diseases are not limited to one geographic region, political or social part of the world, but in different forms and extends remain overall present. More than 9000 deaths i USA, due to food- and waterborne diseases, are certainly an strong indicator that the food safety is an issue in developed part of the world, as well. Thus, it is not surprising that in highly industrialized countries, such as USA, Australia and EU members for example, percentage of people suffering from different of unsafe food has been reported to be up to 30 % (WHO, 2002).
Having in a mind recent trends in global food production, processing, storage, distribution and retail, our state is that global problems with food safety is great challenge for the future initiatives, activities and strengthen comprehensive measures in all parts of “food/nutrition chain”. Also, this will be a right reaction and clear reply on more and more stronger market and customers demands –all in order to improve global food safety situation. So, the scope of this paper is to present and discuss some available data (facts) according to actual food safety situation (problems), as well as to suggest some of initiatives, activities and measures that possible can ensure a safer global food supply – safeguarding consumer health worldwide.