Overview of Food Safety Issues by P. K. Seth - ILSI India

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersWhy is Food Safety Important ?‣ Food is expected to nourish people‣ Unsafe food leads to foodborne diseasespredominantly induced d by micro-organismsi‣ Some populations are highlyhl vulnerable tounsafe food

Where Cutting Edge Science Prospers…..Food borne illness‣ Foodborne illnesses are defined as diseases,usually either infectious or toxic in nature,caused by agents that enter the body throughthe ingestion of food.‣ Every person is at risk of foodborne illness.

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersFoodborne illness‣ 76 million cases each year‣ 350,000 Hospitalizations‣ 5000 DeathsAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO)about 70% of the 2 million death per year fromdiarrhea in developing countries are related tocontaminated food.

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersSources of Food hazards‣ Biological: bacteria, viruses, parasites‣ Chemical: naturally present chemicals,chemicals produced by cooking,(environmental) contaminants, t additives,cleaning chemicals‣ Physical: foreign objects, e.g. bone,rock, metal

Where Cutting Edge Science Prospers.... Sources of Food hazards‣ Air‣ Dust‣ People‣ Food Contact Surfaces‣ Equipments‣ Insects, Animals

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersEnvironmental Contaminantst‣ Methylmercury‣ PBB‣ PCB‣ Insecticides and Pesticides

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersNatural Toxicants‣ Poisonous mushrooms‣ Goitrogens‣ Cyanogens‣ Solanine

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersMicroorganisms are the Enemy‣ Microorganisms are the rootcause of quality and safetyproblemsA ton of microscopic bacteria may beactive in each acre of soil

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersCommon causes of FoodborneInfections‣ Campylobacter jejuni• Sources: raw poultry,unpasteurized milk• Symptoms:Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,may last 7-10 days

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersCommon causes of Foodborne‣ Listeria-Infections• Sources: raw milk, rawseafood, soft cheeses• Symptoms: 7-30 day onset;miscarriage, sepsis,meningitis

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersCommon Causes of Foodborne‣Salmonella-Infections• Sources: raw or undercookedpoultry, eggs…• Symptoms: 6-48 hr onset;fever, chills, vomiting,abdominal cramps, diarrhea

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersCommon Causes of Foodborne‣ Hepatitis A virus-Infections• Sources: Undercooked orraw shelfish, human contact• Symptoms: 15-20 day onset;liver inflammation, tiredness,nausea and vomiting

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersCommon Causes of Foodborne‣ E. coli O157:H7-Infections• Sources: Undercookedground beef, Unpasteurizedmilk products, person toperson.• Symptoms: 12-72 hr onset;bloody diarrhea, kidney failure,can be fatal

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersCommon causes of FoodIntoxication‣ C. Botulinum toxin:• Sources: improperly cannedproducts• Symptoms: 4-36 hours;inability to swallow, doublevision, progressive paralysisand suffocation; often fatal

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersCommon causes of FoodIntoxication‣ Staphylococcus:• Sources: Humans arecarriers; poor foodhandling procedures• Symptoms: 8-24 hr.onset; mimics flu; lasts24-4848 hr; rarely fatal

Where Cutting Edge Science Prospers‣ Growth Promoters• Arsenals• Antibiotics‣ Milk Enhancers• Oxitocin‣ DrugsHormones and Drugs• Antimicrobial (antibiotics, sulphonamides,etc)

Where Cutting Edge Science Prospers‣ ImmediateAdverse Effects• Anaphylactic reaction• Allergy‣ Delayed Effect• Drug Resistance• Therapy Failure• Impart on Immune System

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersUnusual Issues‣ Mad Cow Disease‣ Bird Flu‣ Obesity

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersSelected Examples of Agents responsible forFood borne outbreaks in India‣ Bacteria: Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcusaureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus‣ Mycotoxins: Aflatoxins, Clavine ergot alkaloids,Deoxynivalenol and Fumonisin‣ Naturally occurring toxins inherently present in Foods:Unusual amino acids of Lathyrus sativus, Pyrollizidinealkaloids of Crotalaria, Alkaloids in Argemone mexicana,Toxic proteins of Mushrooms‣ Chemical agents: Heavy metal contaminants like CopperArsenic, Mercury and Tin, unpermitted or improperly usedOrganochlorine and Organophosphrous Pesticide and FoodAdditives

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersPeople with a higher risk of foodborneillness‣ Infantswomen‣ Pregnant‣ Young children and older adults‣ People with weakened immunesystems and individuals with certainchronic diseases

Where Cutting Edge Science Prospers8 Identified Major Risk Factors‣ Improper holding temperatures‣ Preparing food ahead of planned schedule‣ Poor personal hygiene‣ Inadequate cooking‣ Inadequate cleaning and disinfecting ofequipment‣ Cross contaminationti‣ Use of left over‣ Contaminated raw material

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersChallenge to Food SafetyEvolution and ChangeHostPathogenEnvironment

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersFood Production is a Complex SystemInputsFarmFood can becontaminated at anypoint, from farm inputsto consumerTransportMill / Slaughter /Food ProcessorTransport/ImportsRestaurant/RetailConsumer

Food Safety ChallengesWhere Cutting Edge Science Prospers‣ Do we know all types of pathogens and chemicalscausing food safety hazards?‣ Identification of emerging food hazards andcontaminants‣ Development, validation and application of innovativemethods for detection and control of pathogens andchemicals responsible for food-borne illness.‣ Risk assessment and risk management in food safety‣ What is the most cost-effective point to intervene inthe food supply chain?All these are quite challenging because we are dealingwith moving targets. Pathogens are living organisms; theyreact to changing environments and mutation occurs inthese organisms on a regular basis.

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersSpecial Issues for Developing Countries‣ Importance of food safety recognition recently‣ Little Consumer awareness‣ Fragmented industry‣ Majority of food processing units in small andunorganized sector‣ Food handlers not well trained‣ Diversity of food products / cuisines and foodhabits‣ Inadequate laboratory and testing infrastructure‣ Traditional practices like street food, carrying andstorage food, etc.

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersFood Safety Opportunities‣ Enhanced food safety in the country should provideopportunities for additional value-added agri-foodexports‣ Food safety is no longer a national issue. It will becomean increasingly important global issue. India can play animportant role in enhancing food safety capacities ofdeveloping countries which in turn will bring additionalbenefits.‣ The food safety programs offer opportunities for humancapital formation through food safety education andtraining.

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersSome International Organisations‣ World Trade Organization (WTO)‣ International Standards Organization (ISO)‣ Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex)‣ Office International des Epizooties (OIE)‣ International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersGovernmental Agencies in India‣ Grading, Certification and Inspection measuressuch as those under AGMARK, BIS, FPO, MMPO,EIC‣ Developmental activities of agencies like APEDA,MPEDA, Ministry of Food Processing Industries‣ Commodity Boards such as those for Coffee, Tea,Coconut, Bee (Honey), Horticulture, Dairy, Tropicalproduce (TRIFED).

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersRegulatory eguatoy Framework in Indiada1. Government Rules for GMOs2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare3. Prevention of Food Adulteration Act4. Task Force on Application of AgriculturalBiotechnology5. National Biotechnology Strategyt6. Food Safety and Standards Bill, 20067. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersObjectives of Food Control SystemFood Control System covering safety and quality of foodshould have the following broad objectives:‣ Protection ti of the consumer against health hazards andcommercial fraud due to adulteration andmisinformation – the core objective;‣ Developing and protecting the system for productionand distribution of safe food in the interest of nationaleconomy;‣ Facilitation of domestic and export food trade.‣ Communication of food risks to consumer and thoseengaged in post-harvest handling and distribution offood.‣ Prevention of food hazards.

ConclusionWhere Cutting Edge Science Prospers‣ There is significant concern and awareness aboutthe food safety in India.‣ A Food Safety and Standards Bill, 2006 has beenintroduced d to regulate the sector and a Food Safetyand Standards Authority of India has been setup underthe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.‣ A number of new tools for risk assessment andtracking of the contaminants and the source of thefood are being developed. These include early methodsfor detection, identification and softwares, etc

Where Cutting Edge Science Prospers….. Conclusion‣ Problems of the food material being procured fromMandi’s and street corners needs further attentionas it is difficult to trace back the origin of foodmaterial from such places.‣ There is a strong need of collaboration betweenfood industry, academia and regulatory authoritiesto setup a comprehensive food safety system inthe country to enable the country to competequalitatively in the international food market.

Where Cutting Edge Science ProspersBIOTECH PARK, LUCKNOWChief Executive OfficerBiotechnology ParkSector G, Kursi Road, JankipuramLucknow-226021Tel: +91-522-4012091 / 76 / 83; 2355050Telefax: +91-522-4012081Email: info@biotechcitylucknow.orgceo.biotech@gmail.com