UNIDO revises food safety approach

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has unveiled a refreshed food safety approach.

UNIDO launched its Food Safety Approach 2.0 at the Vienna Food Safety Forum in earlier this month. The plan calls for robust food safety systems, acknowledging the complexity and numerous stakeholders involved, and emphasizes the relevance of shared responsibility.

Challenges such as a shortage of qualified auditors, rising certification costs, and diverse regulatory requirements can disrupt supply chains. Because of increasing economic pressure, decision-makers in authorities and industry are often trying to save costs related to food safety.

UNIDO said industry 4.0 technologies, including smart sensors, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI), are transforming food manufacturing and regulatory practices. Digitalization enables real-time data collection, predictive analytics, and rapid responses to contamination risks, helping stakeholders make informed decisions and reduce incidents. However, digitalization also risks widening the gap between low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and other nations because of infrastructure and resource issues. 

According to the document, food security cannot be achieved without addressing food safety and hygiene. Contaminated food contributes to foodborne illnesses that affect millions of people annually and the lack of robust measures leads to rejection of consignments at borders. While food safety is a shared responsibility, industry is the main player as it produces what is eaten.

Three-pronged approach
The approach has three parts: supporting safer and resilient food business practices; creating an environment for robust food safety systems; and fostering food safety advocacy and partnership.  

The first part says making food safety services available to businesses will contribute to improved competitiveness through reduced costs and development of the local sector. Tailored voluntary third-party assurance (vTPA) programs will offer scalable solutions for firms to gain buyers’ trust and increase market access.

The second pillar includes harmonizing standards at national and regional levels, and making policies based on Codex guidelines to meet the practical needs of companies. It also concentrates on modernizing food safety authorities’ practices. This involves developing laboratory capacities for testing, digital solutions for risk-based inspections and remote audits, and promoting collaborative data sharing.

The third part says businesses and the private sector in LMICs need to participate in the design, delivery, and implementation of national food safety programs. The revised approach recognizes the need to improve understanding around the burden of foodborne diseases. Greater engagement with stakeholders can contribute to improved data collection, surveillance, and information-sharing on foodborne infections, helping to shape more effective regulatory and industry-led food safety initiatives.

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