A 360° vision on food safety

01/06/2021

With some 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses every year, unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies around the world. Ensuring food safety is a public health priority and an essential step to achieving food security.

FAO is the only international organization overseeing all aspects of the food chain, providing a 360° vision on food safety.

On World Food Safety Day, have a look at some of FAO’s publications on this topic.

For more titles, browse the Publications catalogue.

JUST PUBLISHED: Microbiological risk assessment – Guidance for good
This document provides guidance on risk assessment for all microbial hazards that may adversely affect human health along the food chain, focusing on hazard identification, hazard characterization, exposure assessment and risk characterization.

Guide to World Food Safety Day 2021
This third World Food Safety Day seeks to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. 

Looking at edible insects from a food safety perspective. Challenges and opportunities for the sector
The farming of insects for food and feed is on the rise and brings both benefits and challenges. This publication presents food safety hazards that could be associated with edible insects, including biological agents and chemical contaminants. 

Codex and the SDGs – How participation in Codex Alimentarius supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
This document explains how Codex work supports countries in achieving the SDGs within the wider framework of the 2030 Agenda, highlighting how the Codex Trust Fund helps developing and transition economy countries to build food safety capacity.

Food safety technical toolkit for Asia and the Pacific
This set of publications summarizes the collaboration between FAO and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to improve the participation of ASEAN countries in Codex Alimentarius.

• Policy makers speak up for safer food in Asia and the Pacific
• Backyard farming and slaughtering: keeping tradition safe
• Investing in food safety for global benefits a concrete case in the association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) countries
• Food allergies: leaving no one behind
• Food fraud intention, detection and management
• Organic foods: are they safer?
• Parasites in foods: an invisible threat
• Slowing down superbugs: legislation and antimicrobial resistance
• Measuring food safety indicators to achieve Sustainable Development Goals

Food safety and COVID-19-related resources

• FAO COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme – Trade and food safety standards
• COVID-19 and Food Safety: Guidance for competent authorities responsible for national food safety control systems
• COVID-19 and Food Safety: Guidance for food businesses
• Food safety in the time of COVID-19
• 10 things consumers should know about food safety and COVID-19

Additional reading

• Codex – What next for standards 
• Codex Code of Practice for fish and fishery products
• Understanding international harmonization of pesticide maximum residue limits with Codex standards
• Compendium of Food Additive Specifications – Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
• Microbial safety of lipid-based ready-to-use foods for management of moderate acute malnutrition and severe acute malnutrition. Second report
• Food control system assessment tool
• Safety and quality of water used in food production and processing
• Climate change: Unpacking the burden on food safety
• The future of food safety