MICROBIAL FOOD SAFETY A FOOD SYSTEMS APPROACH

Transcript:MICROBIAL FOOD SAFETY A FOOD SYSTEMS APPROACH:
MICROBIAL FOOD SAFETY A FOOD SYSTEMS APPROACH Charlene Wolf-Hall and William Nganje Chapter 14: Impacts on Global Trade and Regulations How do foodborne pathogens and other agents impact trade? How do nations use standards and regulations to restore trust in our food supply system? What are the similarities and differences among measures to restore trust in our global food supply? Key Questions Consumer demand escalates food trade and requires delivering more tonnage through ports of entry (POE), rail, trucks, and air. Increased volumes of food trade with ever increasing velocity have been associated with significant food safety risks (unintentional food contamination from pathogens, chemical, or physical agents) and food defense risks (intentional food contamination by disgruntled employees or terrorists). Global Trade Impacts of Foodborne Pathogens Food trade is increasing around the globe due to a growing middle class and several other factors. For example, American consumers continually demand more fresh produce and food throughout the year, in particular during non-productive U.S. seasons. Increased volumes of imported foods with ever increasing velocity have been associated with significant food safety and food defense risks. Challenges with Increasing Food Trade Mitigating the impacts of food risks on trade involves private-public partnership. Countries develop policies and private sector develop certifications and standards to mitigate trade impacts from food risks and restore consumer confidence on safe trade flows. Current Standards and Regulations On December 21, 2010, the US Congress passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, the first major food safety measure in the United States in more than 60 years. The measure will require importers to be responsible for making sure the food they bring into the country meets US safety standards. Technology at ports of entry used could include: X-ray and gamma-imaging systems. Customs Border Protection (CBP) officers analyze these images to determine anomalies associated with the cargo listed on the manifest. Automated targeting system (ATS). ATS is a mathematical model that uses weighted rules that assign a risk score to each arriving shipment in a container, based on manifest information. USDA-APHIS initiates inspections of imported produce at the farms in Mexico or their packing and processing facilities with a 24-hour e-manifest rule (US Department of Homeland Security, 2003). Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Uses intelligence and risk based strategies to screen information on 100% of the cargo before it is loaded onto vessels bound for US. Screening and inspection: CBP screens 100%