Food control system assessment tool
Food control system assessment tool

Author:

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2021-10-07

Total Pages: 47

ISBN-13: 9240028374

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National food control system plays a pivotal role in protecting the health of consumers and ensuring fair practices in food trade. When we are able to assess performance of the system in a comprehensive way, it can identify priority areas of improvement and plan sequential and coordinated activities to reach expected outcomes. To demonstrate good performance of the system gives an opportunity to Member states for new markets, to improve trading relationships and to build stakeholder confidence domestically as well. FAO and WHO jointly developed a comprehensive tool to assist Member states in assessing the effectiveness of national food control system. The FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool comprises 162 assessment criteria under 25 system competencies over 4 Dimensions. This introductory booklet is designed to facilitate application of the assessment tool, and competent authorities are able to have an overview by this booklet before they initiate the assessment. This booklet includes several interactive buttons and links to better browse the document. Interactive tools (such as texts underlined in orange) includes also “pop-up” additional notes which can be opened clicking on the symbol +.

Food control system assessment tool: Introduction and glossary
Food control system assessment tool: Introduction and glossary

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2019-07-09

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 9251316309

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The main objective of the tool is to propose a harmonized, objective and consensual basis to analyse the performance of a national food control system. It is intended to be used by countries as a supporting basis for self-assessment to identify priority areas of improvement and plan sequential and coordinated activities to reach expected outcomes, and by repeating the assessment on a regular basis, countries can monitor their progresses. The Tool is based on Codex principles and Guidelines for National Food Control Systems as well as other relevant Codex guidance for food control systems, which are referenced throughout the document. Its scope is given by the dual objectives quoted in Codex guidance for these systems: protect health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade. This introductory volume presents the FAO/WHO Food Control System Assessment Tool, providing background to its development and outlining its main scope and objectives. It presents a thorough review of the assessment Tool structure, breaking it down into its constitutive elements (dimensions, sub-dimensions, competencies and assessment criteria). Finally, it gives an overview of the assessment approach, from the ratings to the descriptive analysis supporting the allocation of scores. The volume also contains a glossary of useful terms and the list of Codex documents referenced in the Tool.

Risk Assessment of Food Allergens – Part 4: Establishing exemptions from mandatory declaration for priority food allergens
Risk Assessment of Food Allergens – Part 4: Establishing exemptions from mandatory declaration for priority food allergens

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2024-02-26

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 924008892X

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The Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) requested scientific advice as to whether certain foods and ingredients, such as highly refined foods and ingredients, that are derived from the list of foods known to cause hypersensitivity can be exempted from mandatory declaration. The objective of this fourth meeting was to expand on the recommendations from the first meeting concerning derivatives of food allergens and establish a framework for evaluating exemptions for food allergens. A pro forma process has been developed and tested against allergen derivatives previously granted exemptions in various countries or regions and found to be effective for consideration in future exemption decisions. The Expert Committee recommends that the process outlined in the pro forma process be used to guide any future development and evaluation of derivative exemptions. Establishment of safety based upon this weight of evidence approach is dependent upon consideration of data quality, outcome of the exposure assessment for all intended ingredient uses (specified for exemption), and review by competent authorities (as needed). When safety is established, exemption can be justified.

Strengthening National Food Control Systems
Strengthening National Food Control Systems

Author: Marlynne Hopper

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 9789251055366

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Food safety and quality are essential for food security, public health and economic development. These guidelines have been developed by the FAO, in collaboration with the WHO, to assist countries to identify capacity building needs in the core components of a national food control system, in relation to: food control management; legislation; inspection; official food control laboratories; food safety and quality information, education and communication.

Food safety in the context of limited food availability
Food safety in the context of limited food availability

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. [Author] [Author]

Published: 2024-05-24

Total Pages: 128

ISBN-13: 925138777X

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Lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) and ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) are used to prevent and treat malnutrition in children. [Author] They are often produced in regions experiencing food insecurity and include edible oils obtained from oleaginous seeds or fruits that must be refined to remove undesirable substances and ensure adequate shelf-life for the product. [Author] However, the formation of the heat-induced contaminants 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) fatty acid esters and glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) may occur during the refining process of edible oils. [Author] 3-MCPD and its fatty acid esters are present in many other foodstuffs and most of the total lifetime exposure is attributed to foods other than LNS/RUTF. [Author] While the only Codex standard developed for 3-MCPD is for liquid condiments containing acid hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, no Codex standards are available for GEs. [Author] This publication provides an overview of risk assessments for 3-MCPD and GEs previously performed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other authorities, based on chronic exposure. [Author] The use of LNS/RUTF is intended to be of finite duration and confined to a specific life stage. [Author] The aim of this report was to provide an assessment to characterize the risk of less-than-lifetime exposure to 3-MCPD (including 3-MCPD fatty acid esters) and GEs via LNS/RUTF in the context of limited food availability. [Author] The thresholds identified herein for concentrations of 3-MCPD and glycidol equivalents in LNS/RUTF products are considered to represent a level of exposure that is of low concern for human health. [Author]

Food safety in a circular economy
Food safety in a circular economy

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. [Author] [Author]

Published: 2024-08-21

Total Pages: 116

ISBN-13: 9251390053

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Agrifood systems require sustained growth to maintain food security for the global population, while facing unprecedented pressure from challenges of climate change and resource depletion. In this context, evaluating, holistically planning and transitioning to circularity will be critical to improve sustainability and face those challenges. While circular economy initiatives offer considerable promise in improving sustainability and increasing performance, these benefits are juxtaposed by the increasing evidence that contaminants, physical, microbiological or chemical, can get introduced, persist and potentially lead to unsafe food. Therefore, protecting food safety is key for the success of transitioning our current linear agrifood system to a more sustainable and circular one. This report provides a synthesis of current and emerging evidence of food safety risks in circular agrifood initiatives, with an aim to understand challenges and opportunities to manage and enhance food safety. Food safety has to be an equal performance indicator for any transition, requiring addressing data gaps, focusing research efforts and exploring opportunities for improving food safety outcomes. All parties in the agrifood system need to proactively do their part to ensure agrifood systems develop, by harnessing the innovation in this area, and at the same time produce safe food.

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption

Author: World Health Organization

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2024-10-25

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13: 9240100873

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Evolving science and debate concerning the benefits and risks of consuming fish have resulted in confusion over the years, and national and international food safety agencies have recognized the need to provide useful, clear and relevant information in this regard to consumers. In October 2023, FAO and WHO held the second Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the Risks and Benefits of Fish Consumption to analyse new scientific evidence on the matter and draw relevant conclusions and recommendations. The overall conclusions of the exercise show that consuming fish provides energy, protein and a range of other nutrients important for health, and that there are benefits related to fish consumption during all life stages (pregnancy, childhood and adulthood). General population studies show that the benefits and individual effects of fish consumption vary depending on overall diet, the characteristics of consumers, and the fish that is consumed.