Articles - Food Safety

Increasing Russian grain production could push the country to look more closely at mycotoxins to take advantage of new export opportunities.     Russia is set to ramp up agricultural production and exports in the next few years, but mycotoxin contamination remains an open challenge hindering the export of more products to foreign mar [...]

With support from the EITFood program, researchers from ISPA-CNR developed the NUTRIBOX e-commerce platform based on safe and nutritionally balanced virtual shelves to increase consumer protection and to guide vulnerable people in making safe and mindful food choices.           After the pandemic: changes in eating habits a [...]

Primary outcomes from the industry perspective.   The FoodIntegrity “Ensuring the Integrity of the European Food Chain” program was a successful €12 million European Commission 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development (FP7) research project that ran from 2014 to 2018, spanning both the FP7 and the Horizon [...]

The safety and regulatory procedures of plant-based meat alternatives have recently been questioned. Many food safety experts advise against regularly consuming plant-based meat due to the possible presence of allergens, anti-nutrients, and thermally generated carcinogens.    Consumer’s increased desire for meat substitutes may be t [...]

Organic food is promoted as “better” food. But what does “better” mean? And do industrialised processes mean organic production encounters the same pitfalls as conventional agriculture?     Introduction Consumer cotestncern over the quality and safety of conventional food is one of the drivers of the increasing dem [...]

With Campylobacter infections on the rise and treatment options disappearing because of growing antimicrobial resistance, how should the food industry respond?     Why Campylobacter?   Campylobacter is one of the major foodborne pathogens of concern. C. jejuni and C. coli are the major causative agents, with C. jejuni accounting for [...]

Next generation genetic manipulation techniques provide research groups tools for deep modification of different organisms. How do different countries regulate these technologies? Are current regulations rational or are they driven by illogical fears?     Introduction   From the beginning of human history, tribes and populations have [...]

Dietary supplements: how natural contaminants may turn botanical remedies into a Pandora’s box.       Food supplements: a growing market trend  According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA 2009), food supplements are “concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological e [...]

A mandatory, unique, standardized register for all EU member States is necessary, despite the difficulties of implementation. However, such a register is still a long way off.         Introduction   While most people around the world can enjoy their meals without a second thought, for an unlucky few, what is on their plate [...]

Introducing alternative and sustainable sources of proteins in the human diet is crucial to guarantee nutrition security while reducing the impact on the environment. Allergenicity assessment of novel ingredients aims to provide safe food to consumers.         Introduction     The world population is increasing by 1% e [...]

Agrochemicals and pesticides as indirect actuators of antimicrobial resistance.     Introduction   Agriculture is important for a country’s economy. With increasing industrialisation and growing populations, land resources for cultivation are decreasing. Large amounts of chemicals are used worldwide to control pests and weeds a [...]

A complex interrelationship of global, regional, national, and private trade and analytical standards for olive oil and olive oil grading provides assurance at every step from tree to consumer.      Introduction  Olive oil is an ancient food oil with a long history and current prominence in dietary approaches based on traditiona [...]

The list of regulated chemical substances is different, the maxium allowed concentrations are sometimes different and in each country or Federation there are often changes in the regulation. In a few cases such differences can represent a trade barrier.Abbreviations:Codex • Codex Alimentarius CommissionCU • Customs UnionML • Maximum LevelMRL [...]

Digital communication technologies have tremendous potential to facilitate effective risk communication about existing and emerging food safety threats. However, some caution regarding social exclusion and ethical issues is needed.      The need for effective risk benefit communication  Effective risk communication about food is [...]

China and Russia are on a fast track to ramp up food trade, but several food safety issues must be solved first.Russia is eager to partially replace US products in the Chinese food market, but ongoing food safety disagreements remain a stumbling block for export growth. During the first ten months of 2020, Russia exported 3.7 million tonnes of foo [...]