Climate change: implications for food safety

The various climate-change-related phenomena - changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, ocean warming and acidification – are thought to present a number of direct and indirect challenges to food safety. While there is growing evidence of some expected effects on food safety, others remain largely speculative.

It is the role of food safety authorities to actively seek information on emerging hazards and risks and to re-orient national programmes as required to adequately deal with an evolving situation. This will require increased emphasis on integrated surveillance and sharing of data internationally.

FAO produced a paper that aims to identify potential impacts of anticipated changes in climate on food safety and their control at all stages of the food chain. Climate Change: Implications for Food Safety.