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International Journal of Environmental... Jan 2022Food safety inspections are a key health protection measure applied by governments to prevent foodborne illness, yet they remain the subject of sustained... (Review)
Review
Food safety inspections are a key health protection measure applied by governments to prevent foodborne illness, yet they remain the subject of sustained criticism. These criticisms include inconsistency and inadequacy of methods applied to inspection, and ineffectiveness in preventing foodborne illness. Investigating the validity of these criticisms represent important areas for further research. However, a defined construct around the meanings society attributes to food safety inspection must first be established. Through critical examination of available literature, this review identified meanings attributed to food safety inspection and explicates some of the key elements that compose food safety inspection as a social construct. A total of 18 meanings were found to be attributed to food safety inspection. Variation in meanings were found between consumers, food business associates and food safety inspectors. For some, inspection meant a source of assurance, for others a threat to fairness, while most view inspection as a product of resources and inspector training. The meanings were then examined in light of common criticisms directed at food safety inspection, to expound their influence in how food safety inspection is realized, shaped, and rationalized. This review highlights the influence of sociological factors in defining food safety inspection. .
Topics: Food Inspection; Food Safety; Foodborne Diseases; Humans
PubMed: 35055611
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020789 -
Microbiology Spectrum Apr 2018Foodborne disease causes an estimated 48 million illnesses and 3,000 deaths annually (Scallan E, et al., 17:7-15, 2011), with U.S. economic costs estimated at $152... (Review)
Review
Foodborne disease causes an estimated 48 million illnesses and 3,000 deaths annually (Scallan E, et al., 17:7-15, 2011), with U.S. economic costs estimated at $152 billion to $1.4 trillion annually (Roberts T, 89:1183-1188, 2007; Scharff RL, http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/0001/01/01/healthrelated-costs-from-foodborne-illness-in-the-united-states, 2010). An increasing number of these illnesses are associated with fresh fruits and vegetables. An analysis of outbreaks from 1990 to 2003 found that 12% of outbreaks and 20% of outbreak-related illnesses were associated with produce (Klein S, Smith DeWaal CS, Center for Science in the Public Interest, https://cspinet.org/sites/default/files/attachment/ddreport.pdf, June 2008; Lynch M, Tauxe R, Hedberg C, 137:307-315, 2009). These food safety problems have resulted in various stakeholders recommending the shift to a more preventative and risk-based food safety system. A modern risk-based food safety system takes a farm-to-fork preventative approach to food safety and relies on the proactive collection and analysis of data to better understand potential hazards and risk factors, to design and evaluate interventions, and to prioritize prevention efforts. Such a system focuses limited resources at the points in the food system with the likelihood of having greatest benefit to public health. As shared kitchens, food hubs, and local food systems such as community supported agriculture are becoming more prevalent throughout the United States, so are foodborne illness outbreaks at these locations. At these locations, many with limited resources, food safety methods of prevention are rarely the main focus. This lack of focus on food safety knowledge is why a growing number of foodborne illness outbreaks are occurring at these locations.
Topics: Disease Outbreaks; Food Contamination; Food Microbiology; Food Parasitology; Food Safety; Foodborne Diseases; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points; Humans; Public Health; Social Change; United States
PubMed: 29651980
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.PFS-0020-2017 -
Journal of Food Protection Nov 2021Throughout the past decades, climate change has been one of the most complex global issues. Characterized by worldwide alterations in weather patterns, along with a... (Review)
Review
ABSTRACT
Throughout the past decades, climate change has been one of the most complex global issues. Characterized by worldwide alterations in weather patterns, along with a concomitant increase in the temperature of the Earth, climate change will undoubtedly have significant effects on food security and food safety. Climate change engenders climate variability: significant variations in weather variables and their frequency. Both climate variability and climate change are thought to threaten the safety of the food supply chain through different pathways. One such pathway is the ability to exacerbate foodborne diseases by influencing the occurrence, persistence, virulence and, in some cases, toxicity of certain groups of disease-causing microorganisms. Food safety can also be compromised by various chemical hazards, such as pesticides, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. With changes in weather patterns, such as lower rainfall, higher air temperature, and higher frequency of extreme weather events among others, this translates to emerging food safety concerns. These include the shortage of safe water for irrigation of agricultural produce, greater use of pesticides due to pest resistance, increased difficulty in achieving a well-controlled cold chain resulting in temperature abuse, or the occurrence of flash floods, which cause runoff of chemical contaminants in natural water courses. Together, these can result in foodborne infection, intoxication, antimicrobial resistance, and long-term bioaccumulation of chemicals and heavy metals in the human body. Furthermore, severe climate variability can result in extreme weather events and natural calamities, which directly or indirectly impair food safety. This review discusses the causes and impacts of climate change and variability on existing and emerging food safety risks and also considers mitigation and adaptation strategies to address the global warming and climate change problem.
Topics: Agriculture; Climate Change; Food Safety; Food Supply; Humans; Weather
PubMed: 34185849
DOI: 10.4315/JFP-21-141 -
Environmental Health and Preventive... Nov 2019Food safety in the food market is one of the key areas of focus in public health, because it affects people of every age, race, gender, and income level around the...
BACKGROUND
Food safety in the food market is one of the key areas of focus in public health, because it affects people of every age, race, gender, and income level around the world. The local and international food marketing continues to have significant impacts on food safety and health of the public. Food supply chains now cross multiple national borders which increase the internationalization of health risks. This systematic review of literature was, therefore, conducted to identify common public health risks related to food safety issues in the food market.
METHODS
All published and unpublished quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method studies were searched from electronic databases using a three step searching. Analytical framework was developed using the PICo (population, phenomena of interest, and context) method. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) version 2018. The included full-text articles were qualitatively analyzed using emergent thematic analysis approach to identify key concepts and coded them into related non-mutually exclusive themes. We then synthesized each theme by comparing the discussion and conclusion of the included articles. Emergent themes were identified based on meticulous and systematic reading. Coding and interpreting the data were refined during analysis.
RESULTS
The analysis of 81 full-text articles resulted in seven common public health risks related with food safety in the food market. Microbial contamination of foods, chemical contamination of foods, food adulteration, misuse of food additives, mislabeling, genetically modified foods (GM foods), and outdated foods or foods past their use-by dates were the identified food safety-related public health risks in the food market.
CONCLUSION
This systematic literature review identified common food safety-related public health risks in the food market. The results imply that the local and international food marketing continues to have significant impacts on health of the public. The food market increases internationalization of health risks as the food supply chains cross multiple national borders. Therefore, effective national risk-based food control systems are essential to protect the health and safety of the public. Countries need also assure the safety and quality of their foods entering international trade and ensure that imported foods conform to national requirements.
Topics: Consumer Product Safety; Food Contamination; Food Quality; Food Safety; Food Supply; Humans; Internationality; Public Health; Risk Factors; Risk Management
PubMed: 31785611
DOI: 10.1186/s12199-019-0825-5 -
International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2023Food safety is a critical aspect of public health and involves the handling, preparation, and storage of food to avoid contamination and foodborne illnesses [...].
Food safety is a critical aspect of public health and involves the handling, preparation, and storage of food to avoid contamination and foodborne illnesses [...].
Topics: Proteomics; Food Microbiology; Food Handling; Food Safety; Gene Expression Profiling; Food Contamination
PubMed: 38138956
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417127 -
Nutrients Jun 2021A gluten-free diet (GFD) is currently the only effective treatment for celiac disease (CD); an individual's daily intake of gluten should not exceed 10 mg. However, it... (Review)
Review
A gluten-free diet (GFD) is currently the only effective treatment for celiac disease (CD); an individual's daily intake of gluten should not exceed 10 mg. However, it is difficult to maintain a strict oral diet for life and at least one-third of patients with CD are exposed to gluten, despite their best efforts at dietary modifications. It has been demonstrated that both natural and certified gluten-free foods can be heavily contaminated with gluten well above the commonly accepted threshold of 20 mg/kg. Moreover, meals from food services such as restaurants, workplaces, and schools remain a significant risk for inadvertent gluten exposure. Other possible sources of gluten are non-certified oat products, numerous composite foods, medications, and cosmetics that unexpectedly contain "hidden" vital gluten, a proteinaceous by-product of wheat starch production. A number of immunochemical assays are commercially available worldwide to detect gluten. Each method has specific features, such as format, sample extraction buffers, extraction time and temperature, characteristics of the antibodies, recognition epitope, and the reference material used for calibration. Due to these differences and a lack of official reference material, the results of gluten quantitation may deviate systematically. In conclusion, incorrect gluten quantitation, improper product labeling, and poor consumer awareness, which results in the inadvertent intake of relatively high amounts of gluten, can be factors that compromise the health of patients with CD.
Topics: Celiac Disease; Diet, Gluten-Free; Dietary Exposure; Food Contamination; Food Safety; Glutens; Humans
PubMed: 34210037
DOI: 10.3390/nu13072244 -
Environment International Dec 2021
Topics: Environmental Pollution; Food Contamination; Food Safety; Humans
PubMed: 34364216
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106812 -
Laeknabladid Mar 2023
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Food Safety; Food Security
PubMed: 36856467
DOI: 10.17992/lbl.2023.03.732 -
Viruses Nov 2019One of the human- and animal-pathogenic species in genus is a food-borne zoonotic pathogen that causes enteric infections, mesenteric lymphadenitis, and sometimes... (Review)
Review
One of the human- and animal-pathogenic species in genus is a food-borne zoonotic pathogen that causes enteric infections, mesenteric lymphadenitis, and sometimes sequelae such as reactive arthritis and erythema nodosum. is able to proliferate at 4 C, making it dangerous if contaminated food products are stored under refrigeration. The most common source of is raw pork meat. Microbiological detection of the bacteria from food products is hampered by its slow growth rate as other bacteria overgrow it. Bacteriophages can be exploited in several ways to increase food safety with regards to contamination by For example, phages could be useful in keeping the contamination of food products under control, or, alternatively, the specificity of the phages could be exploited in developing rapid and sensitive diagnostic tools for the identification of the bacteria in food products. In this review, we will discuss the present state of the research on these topics.
Topics: Animals; Bacteriophages; Food Microbiology; Food Safety; Humans; Yersinia Infections; Yersinia enterocolitica
PubMed: 31795231
DOI: 10.3390/v11121105 -
Journal of Nutritional Science and... 2022Food safety is very important to protect the health of consumers. In this manuscript, internationally agreed concepts and requirements of food safety and risk analysis...
Food safety is very important to protect the health of consumers. In this manuscript, internationally agreed concepts and requirements of food safety and risk analysis are beiefly explained along with the topics of symposium.
Topics: Food Safety
PubMed: 36436999
DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.68.S140