One Health
How are food safety and One Health connected?
Food safety is a core tenet of One Health. Through the act of eating, which everyone does, we intentionally expose the human body to components from the environment (foods of plant origin and water) and from animals (meat, eggs, milk and honey). Thus, food sits at the nexus of the human–animal–plant–environment interface.
Food production and processing in agrifood systems may affect the health of animals and plants, and may result in environmental contamination.
Reciprocally, the food ‑production environment, the health of animals, and the contamination of plants with zoonotic pathogens and chemical contaminants may impact food safety.
Contact
One Health defined
One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.
The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.
From One Health definitions and principles, One Health High-Level Expert panel. 2023
For more information on One Health, visit:
What we do
The Food Safety Unit of the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division collaborates across disciplines, divisions and organizations to leverage experience and expertise to address food safety challenges that are intertwined with or caused by pressures such as production intensification and the climate crisis. As agrifood systems are transformed to become more productive and, at the same time, more stainable, resilient, inclusive and equitable, food safety must be ensured.
Some areas of work
One Health Joint Plan of Action
The food safety action track of the One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022‑2026) aims to strengthen the risk analysis framework for food safety.
This involves building capacity for increased participation on the part of diverse stakeholders in the processes of food safety risk assessment, risk management and risk communication Read more here.
Key activities include:
- Surveillance and research on foodborne diseases (risk assessment).
- Improving national food control systems, on the basis of science and data from multiple disciplines and sectors, and strengthening in-country food‑safety capacity through training and infrastructure development (risk management).
- Enhancing communication by preparing better for food safety crisis situations and foodborne disease prevention messaging, all under the One Health umbrella.
Climate change
Climate change is increasing the risk of consumer exposure to foodborne hazards, whether from land or sea.
Climate change is increasing the risk of consumer exposure to foodborne hazards, whether from land or sea. Changes in climate have a direct impact on biological hazards (pathogens and parasites) and on chemical hazards (heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins and algal biotoxins), by changing their occurrence, distribution or virulence. For more information, see Climate change: Unpacking the burden on food safety.
Climate change: Unpacking the burden on food safetyOngoing projects
Empowering low income countries to leverage One Health to improve food safety and fair trade (1H4FS) project
Production practices to increase yield, quality and safety of fruits and vegetables
2024
Find out how to increase yield, quality and safety of fruits and vegetables. Healthy plants contribute to enhanced productivity and profitability.
The impact of microplastics on the gut microbiome and health – A food safety perspective
2023
With a food safety focus, a scientific literature review was conducted to characterize the current understanding about the effects of microplastics...
The impact of veterinary drug residues on the gut microbiome and human health – A food safety perspective
2023
With a food safety focus, a scientific literature review was conducted to characterize the current understanding about the effects of veterinary drug...
Safety and quality of water used in the production and processing of fish and fishery products
2023
In 2020, the 43rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission approved the “Development of Guidelines for the Safe Use and Reuse of Water in Food Production”...