ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Don’t Let Food Safety Get Lost in Translation

In the 1960s, we witnessed the first step toward global food safety standards with the creation of the Codex Alimentarius, or Food Code, by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization (see sidebar, “The Mission of the Codex Alimentarus Commission”). To further the goal of harmonization, the Codex Alimentarius stands ready with science-based standards that represent a consensus of food and trade experts worldwide. International trade negotiators are using these standards more often for settling disputes.

There are more examples of progress and success. A decade or so ago, we saw swift, efficient international cooperation on food safety in response to the threat of “mad cow disease.” Just last year, we saw it again during a massive recall of peanut products. The challenge now is to shift from reacting to threats as they arise to anticipating and preventing them. Food safety standards and practices on an international scale must become a routine part of how producers and processors do business at each step of the food chain.

Share Successes to Eradicate Failure

Few things are as basic or critical to a healthy life as food supply safety. What’s more, the more than 76 million cases of foodborne illness in the United States each year are preventable. The nation’s food safety experts must be proactive in establishing these international standards. Share your case studies with the organizations leading critical food safety reform. Teach your best practices to your customers and colleagues. Study new food safety techniques. Don’t let international food safety get lost in translation.

Hernandez is senior vice president of food safety and quality assurance for U.S. Foodservice. Reach him at [email protected] or (847) 232-5959.