7 June 2024
Food safety hazards do not recognize borders. In today's interconnected, global food supply, risks posed by unsafe food can quickly escalate from a local issue to an international emergency. Humanitarian crises generated by conflicts and climate change around the world contribute to food insecurity and compromise food safety. The strength of the global food system is dependent on the strength of its weakest link, and food safety remains an essential component of food security, as only safe food can adequately meet nutritional needs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that every day, on average worldwide get sick due to the consumption of unsafe food. Unsafe food causes more than 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers, due to eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances such as heavy metals. Additionally, unsafe foods contribute to other poor health conditions, including impaired growth and development, micronutrient deficiencies, non-communicable or communicable diseases, as well as mental illness. Food safety incidents have a greater impact on vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems, as these groups are at higher risk of experiencing severe health issues from food-borne illness.
In a world with increasing health threats, when the unexpected happens, preparedness and the rapid exchange of information are key to reducing illness and related costs, the impact on livelihoods, and saving lives. Preventing food safety incidents involves a complex interaction of local, national and international regulations and authorities; continuous monitoring and testing of food products; and the education of food handlers and consumers on proper food safety practices.
Handling these incidents effectively is essential not only to protecting public health but also to maintaining trust in the food supply chain. A single large-scale incident could erode consumer confidence in safe and nutritious foods. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of food safety incidents and drawing lessons from past events is essential for improving food safety standards and practices globally.
The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN), established by WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in 2004, serves as a key platform for uniting food safety authorities from 187 countries to effectively address and communicate information on food safety events that have the potential to cross borders. Hosted by WHO, this global network plays a critical role in managing food safety emergencies worldwide. It facilitates rapid information exchange and cooperation among international food safety authorities, helping to manage and mitigate incidents more effectively. As INFOSAN marks its twentieth anniversary this year (2024), its global influence and connectivity continue to expand.
In 2022, INFOSAN was essential in managing a linked to chocolate products, with identified cases in Europe and in the United States, and with distribution of the implicated products to more than 113 countries and territories. INFOSAN rapidly disseminated detailed information about the contamination, including the specific chocolate products involved, the identified source and distribution details. This timely exchange of information enabled national food safety authorities to quickly implement recalls, remove contaminated products from retail outlets and conduct thorough investigations.
In another instance, in 2021, INFOSAN took part in the management of a linked to the consumption of Galia melons. When the outbreak was identified, INFOSAN quickly disseminated detailed information regarding the contamination, including the specific types of melons implicated, the pathogen detected through whole-genome sequencing, and the possible source of the outbreak in one production facility. Again, this enabled national food safety authorities across various countries to promptly take risk management measures such as issuing public safety advice notices regarding melons in the market.
Through the coordinated efforts of INFOSAN in these emergencies, further cases of illness were prevented, showcasing the network's effectiveness in mitigating food-borne outbreaks and protecting public health across international borders. By sharing real-time alerts and detailed reports, INFOSAN ensures that comprehensive preventive measures are swiftly implemented, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in managing food safety risks in a globalized food supply chain.
Food safety is everyone’s business and all of the players along the production chain can do their part.
Governments should prioritize the development and regular updating of national food safety emergency response plans, ensuring a coordinated approach across government agencies and national authorities, including updated risk communication plans.
Food operators should place emphasis on establishing and regularly updating food safety management plans, as well as providing ongoing staff training.
Consumers should be aware of how to ensure food safety before, during and after emergencies such as floods, fires and natural disasters, as well as how to report poor hygiene standards and misleading food labelling.
This World Food Safety Day, WHO and FAO draw attention to the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents, whether mild or severe, raising awareness about what everyone—no matter the role—can do to be ready for the unexpected. This year’s campaign theme, “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected”, not only underlines the importance of being prepared to manage food safety incidents so that they don’t become emergencies, but also the importance of taking time to plan, prepare and be ready to act in an emergency context.
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