Food Safety: The global problem as a challenge for future initiatives and activities

Abstract

Food is output of numerous and different activities inside very long and complexive "food/nutrition chain" and crucially relates to three important aspects. This aspects, being safety, quality and security, represent a basic right of every human. Namely, last few decades mankind has several very important global problems and among them, certainly, is one of specified aspects - FOOD SAFETY. Why? Because foodborne, as well as waterborne diseases, are major cause of illness and death all around the World. In fact, they are the leading causes of health problems and deaths in developing countries, killing approximately more than three million people annually, most of whom are children. However, food safety problems and diseases are not limited to one geographic region, political or social part of the world, but in different forms and shapes remain overall present. More than 9,000 deaths in the USA, due to food- and waterborne diseases, are certainly a strong indicator that the food safety is an issue in developed part of the world, as well. Thus, it is not surprising that in highly industrialized countries, such as USA, Australia and EU members for example, percentage of people suffering from different issue of unsafe food has been reported to be up to 30% (WHO 2003). Having in a mind recent trends in global food production, processing, storage, distribution and retail, our state is that global problems with food safety is great challenge for the future initiatives, activities and strengthen comprehensive measures in all parts of "food/nutrition chain". Also, this will be a right reaction and clear reply on more and more stronger market and customer's demands - all in order to improve global food safety situation. So, the scope of this paper is to present and discuss some available data (facts) according to actual food safety situation (problems), as well as to suggest some initiatives, activities and measures that possibly can ensure a safer global food supply - safeguarding consumer health worldwide. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.