Food Safety: A Challenge for the Food Science and Technology Community

Food Safety: A Challenge for the Food Science and Technology Community

Dr Gerald Moy

GEMS/Food Manager

Programme of Food Safety

World Health Organization

Food

‘…access to nutritionally adequate and safe food is a basic individual right.’

FAO/WHO World Declaration on Nutrition

1992

“Illness due to contaminated food is perhaps the most widespread health problem in the contemporary world and an important cause of reduced economic productivity.”

Source : FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Safety,

Geneva 1983

Our mission:

...improve human healththrough safer food

Our goals:

• Reduce global burden of foodborne disease

• Advocate a human health focus in food production and trade• Minimise the effect of new foodborne hazards• Provide a scientific basis for food safety standards• Raise the importance of food safety as a health issue• Improve countries’ capacities to improve food safety

Number of reported cases of salmonellosis in the USA

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

1960

1963

1966

1969

1972

1975

1978

1981

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

Source : MMWR

Number of reported cases of foodborne diseases in England and

Wales

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994

CampylobactersSalmonellaeRotavirusShigellaeGiardiaCryptosporidia

Number of reported cases of foodborne diseases

in Japan

02000

40006000

800010000

1200014000

1600018000

1966

1969

1972

1975

1978

1981

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

Source: Statistics of food poisoning in Japan

Salmonellosis

V.parahaemolyticus

Campylobacteriosis

Cases of foodborne diseases in Japan

02000

40006000

800010000

1200014000

1600018000

1966

1969

1972

1975

1978

1981

1984

1987

1990

1993

1996

Source: Statistics of food poisoning in Japan

Salmonellosis

V.parahaemolyticus

Campylobacteriosis

Number of reported cases of foodborne diseases

in Australia

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1400019

84

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Source : National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS)

Campylobacteriosis

Salmonellosis

Number of reported cases (per 100 000 population) of

foodborne diseases in Venezuela

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1976 1979 1982 1985 1988 1991 1994

Nu

mb

er o

f re

po

rted

ca

ses

per

100

000

po

pu

lati

on

Foodborne Diseases in Developing Countries

Up to 70% of Diarrhoeal Diseases in children under the age of five

• 1.8 million deaths per year due to dehydration

• 4 billion episodes per year

• Millions of related deaths due to malnutrition and disease associated with poor nutritional status

Emerging Foodborne Pathogens

Enterohaemorrhagic E.coli

Campylobacter sp.

Listeria monocytogenes

Vibrio cholerae 0139

Salmonella enteritidis

BSE/nvCJD

UK 175,000

Switzerland

299

Ireland 371 (12)

France 59

Portugal 257 (6)

Denmark (1)Denmark (1)

Germany (6)Germany (6)

Italy (2)Italy (2)

Oman (2)Oman (2)

Falklands (1)Falklands (1)

Canada (1)Canada (1)

Luxembourg 1

Belgium 1

Netherlands 6

Liechtenstein 2

Geographical Distribution of BSEImported and Native cases

Geographical Distribution of BSEImported and Native cases

BSE and vCJD potential spread (exports & travel)BSE and vCJD potential spread (exports & travel)

Live CattleLive CattleLive CattleLive Cattle

Food containing beefFood containing beefFood containing beefFood containing beef

PharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticalsBlood and bloodBlood and bloodproductsproductsBlood and bloodBlood and bloodproductsproducts

Bovine tissueBovine tissueused in gelatinused in gelatinBovine tissueBovine tissueused in gelatinused in gelatin

Human and bovineHuman and bovinetissue used in biologicalstissue used in biologicalsHuman and bovineHuman and bovinetissue used in biologicalstissue used in biologicals

(arrows indicate regions involved in trade)(arrows indicate regions involved in trade)(arrows indicate regions involved in trade)(arrows indicate regions involved in trade)

H5N1- Influenza outbreak Hong Kong 1997-98

The possible emergence of an animal influenza virus

easily transmitted between humans and with a pandemic potential

remains.

The possible emergence of an animal influenza virus

easily transmitted between humans and with a pandemic potential

remains.

Reasons for increasing problems with foodborne diseases

• Population growth• Increase in population at risk

• Increase in consumption of animal products

• Urbanization

• Increase in international trade in food & feed

• Increase in international tourism

Population Growth

Consequences:• more food production• use of chemicals

(pesticides, vet.drugs)• “industrialization” of

food production• potential for

contaminated food0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

10000

(million)

19

50

19

70

19

90

20

10

20

30

20

50

Growth of World Population (total)

Source:World Population Prospects, United Nations

AgeingThe Rate of the Elderly (65 years old and over) in G7 Countries (Estimates and Projections)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

CanadaFranceGermanyItalyJapanUnited KingdomUnited States

(%)

Source: United Nations,World Population Prospects projection: medium variant

Consequences : Decrease in natural resistance leading to increased risk of falling ill

from foodborne hazards

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

61 65 69 73 77 81 85 89 93 97

Production of Foods of Animal Origin

Production of Foods of Animal Origin

DevelopedDeveloped

DevelopingDeveloping

1000 MT meat1000 MT meat

Food production (animal origin) is increasing in developing countries

Food production (animal origin) is increasing in developing countries

The antimicrobial resistance threat is growing and may soon affect countries where intensive farming techniques for food production are increasingly used.

The antimicrobial resistance threat is growing and may soon affect countries where intensive farming techniques for food production are increasingly used.

Urbanization

Consequences :• longer food-chain • increased

opportunities for food contamination

• survival and growth of pathogens

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Urba

n po

pula

tion

(%)

1955 1975 1995 2025Source : United Nations,World Population

Prospects, the 1996 Revision

International Trade in Food

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350E

xpor

t bill

ion

$

Source:Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

International Travel

International arrivals

• 1992 476 million• 1994 545 million• 1995 597 million• 2000 660 million Source : World Tourism Organization

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Nu

mb

er o

f in

tern

atio

nal

ar

riva

ls

1992 1994 1995 2000

More Reasons for increasing problems with foodborne

diseases

• Emergence of new foodborne pathogens

• Industrialized/centralized food production and processing

• Improper food preparation practices

• Better understanding of risks of toxic chemicals

Chemical Hazards

• Food Additives• Residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs• Heavy metals• Aflatoxins and other mycotoxins• Dioxins and PCBs• Radionuclides• Many others

Dietary Intake of Lead by Adults

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Cuba (88)

India (81)

Thailand (87)

Italy (81)

Guatemala (88)

Germany (87)

New Zealand (82)

Belgium (82)

France (83)

Ireland (85)

Hungary (84)

Poland (87)

Japan (88)

Korea, Rep. O f

United Kingdom (88)

Denmark (85)

Turkey (88)

Canada (81)

China (81)

Netherlands (88)

Australia* (85)

Switzerland (88)

Sweden (88)

Finland (88)

Yugoslavia (88)

United States (88)

Mean Weekly Intake (uk/kg body weight)* Median Intake

FAO/WHO Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake25 ug/kg body weight

Dietary Intake of Lead by Infants and Children

0 5 10 15 20 25

Switzerland (82)

Finland (80)

Poland (85)

Germany (80)

United Kingdom (85)

Sweden* (83)

Phillipines* (83)

Australia ( 85)

Hungary (83)

Cuba (85)

Niger* (83)

United States (88)

Zaire (83)

Guatemala* (80)

FAO/WHO Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake25 ug/kg body weight

Mean Weekly Intake (ug/kg body weight)

*Median Weekly Intake

Country (most recent year)

Trends in Dietary Intake of Lead by Infants and Children

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988

Wee

kly

Inta

ke (

ug/k

g bo

dy w

eigh

t)

Infant (Australia)*

Child (Australia)*

Infant (USA)**

Child (USA)**

FAO/WHO Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake25 ug/kg body weight

* Median Intake: 1987 data for 95th percentile consumer** Median Intake

Industrial emissions

and effluents

Sewage

Vehicleemission

Agriculturalpractices

Food Safety From Food Safety From Production to ConsumptionProduction to Consumption

Processing

Storage

CookingLivestock

Crops

Seafood

Distribution

Retail

• Microbiological risk• Chemical risk• Biotechnology• Codex• Technology transfer

WHO Strategic planning meeting

Microbiological Risk Assessment Two year process

Selection of experts

Call for data

Hazard Characterization

Exposure Assessment

JEMRAJuly 2000

Peer ReviewJEMRA

May 2001

Risk Characterization

Final Risk Assessment

Public Review

(Joint activity with APH)

Burden

WHAT WE KNOW

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW

SURVEILLANCE OF FOODBORNE SURVEILLANCE OF FOODBORNE DISEASEDISEASE

DECREASE THE BURDEN?DECREASE THE BURDEN?

Good Hygiene

(Traditional approach)

Mitigation options

(Risk analysis)

Burden

Chemical Hazards in Food

• Global hazard characterisation (JECFA, JMPR)

• Global exposure assessments (JECFA, JMPR)

• Global monitoring and capacity building for

contaminants in food (GEMS/Food)

• Risk management advice to Member States

WHO’s Policy Guidance onWHO’s Policy Guidance on

Foods derived from BiotechnologyFoods derived from Biotechnology

Fears from consumers

Scientific debateTrade and health

disputes

WHO(WHO’s Scientific Advisory Body)

WHO’s Policy Guidance

Codex Alimentarius Commission

(165 Member States)

National legislation in WHO Member States

Possible health and trade disputes in WTO, etc.

Codex Standards and Poverty Reduction- from a developing country’s viewpoint-

Codex Standards(by 165 Member States)

Application to Domestic legislation

(by health sector)

Improvement of Health

Application to export products

(by trade sector)

Safety assuranceand improved access to Importing country 1

Increased foreignexchange earnings

Economic and Social Development & poverty reduction

Note: WTO/SPS Agreement requires its Members States to base their sanitary measures on international standards (i.e. Codex Standards on Food Safety)

Educational and promotional materials