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Integrating food safety and nutrition in agri-food systems

Near East and North Africa regional network on nutrition-sensitive agri-food systems - Technical Brief

Year of publication 2021

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 8p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Food safety and nutrition are inextricably linked, yet the importance of food safety in this relation is often overlooked. Improving food safety regulations and their implementation is essential to safeguard the health and good nutritional outcomes of the population. It is crucial to ensure that adequate food safety policy, food safety regulations, investments and implementing institutions are in place as improvements in nutrition cannot be achieved without food safety. There can be no healthy diets without food safety. The nutritious foods that contribute to healthy diets, such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, legumes, meat, dairy products, and fish are the most susceptible to food safety hazards. According to WHO, nearly one in ten people fall ill every year from eating unsafe food, with 420 000 dying as result and low-income countries being the most affected. Similarly, guidelines and regulations for good practices across food value chains should be promoted by official controls and extension services to ensure safe production, processing, storage, transportation and retailing of food products that are safe and of high nutritional quality. While the essence of food safety regulations is to protect consumer's health and promote fair trade practices, market access and income generation, other legitimate factors should also be taken into consideration, such as attitudes and adoption of good practices by food business operators and consumers acceptance. Furthermore, other goals include environmental sustainability, healthy soils, and clean water are important for sustainable production and consumption.

Language English

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    Human nutrition is vital for agriculture. Many smallholder farmers are food-insecure and suffer chronic or acute forms of malnutrition. This can permanently harm the physical and cognitive growth of children, while reducing productivity as household members are less able to carry out agricultural work. Agriculture is vital for human nutrition. Nutrition has long been considered mostly a health issue. However, agriculture plays an essential role in ensuring nutritional wellbeing not only for rural populations, but also for society as a whole. Beyond producing food in sufficient quantity, agri-food systems should also:
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