Food Safety in Food Security : Thailand Perspective

Warapa Mahakarnchanakul, Ph.D Assistant Professor Dept. of Food Science and Technology Faculty of Agro-Industry Kasetsart University

Outline
Terminology : Food Security vs. Food Safety Food Safety as a Trade Issue (domestic and export market) Food Safety Linkages to National Food Policy Challenges to Promote Food safety Awareness in term of Food Security

Food Security
Food Security exits when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutrition food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life
(FAO World Food Summit, 1996)

Dimension of Food Security

Food Security Access
Availability

Utilization Stability

Food and Agricultural Organization, 2006 Food Security Policy Brief, June, Issue2

Food Availability
Food security involves the availability of good quality nutrition food from local, regional and international
Food production Food processing Management on farm Trade-imports Trade-exports Stock of food

Food Access
Food security involves the physical and economic access to enough food for active, healthy life
Marketing Transport Purchasing power School meals

Food Utilization
Food security involves utilization of food through diet, clean water, sanitation and health care to reach a state of nutrition well-being
Nutrition food choices Clean water and proper sanitation Food safety and quality Good health status

Stability
Food security can therefore to both the availability and access all three dimensions of food security Anything that interrupts/or interferes
Food supplies (availability) and access Utilization of food

Will lead to food insecurity

Challenge of unsafe foods

Microbial pathogens Zoonotic diseases Parasites Mycotoxins Antibiotic drug residues Pesticide residues Allergens

Food Poisoning cases in Thailand during 1996-2006

Cases

Year

10

Food safety as the public health issue

Pathogens
Aeromonas spp. Salmonella spp. Escherichia coli Vibrio parahaemolyticus Bacillus cereus Vibrio spp. Staphylococcus aureus

Confirmed test of foodborned pathogens in 2009 (%)

39.94 12.56 11.43 7.41 6.76 6.44 4.99

Causes of food poisoning outbreaks in Thailand

Bacterial pathogens Toxins from animal / plant origin Chemicals Viruses Unidentified

Improving food safety, Improving food security

Difference risk varies with
Climate Diets and consumer behaviors Income levels Public infrastructure

Certain food safety hazard are closely linked with

Sanitation Water supply Food preparation Marketing of food

Surveillance of consumer behaviors from 365 persons in Bangkok revealed that

frequently fast food consumption is the group age <20-30 years old no significant different between education background among the fast food buyers group with income less than 5000 baht/month have tendency to buy frequently.
www.nesdb.go.th/Portais/o/home/interest/scs

Surveillance of consumer behaviors in Bangkok revealed that

due to health concern the consumption of organic produce has increased, the most frequency buyer is the elderly group the group age < 20 years old buy less, and the least buyer group is the low-income less than 5000 baht/month , particularly male.
www.nesdb.go.th/Portais/o/home/interest/scs

Study of mobile market behaviors in Bangkok

Mostly truck owner ( 1225 persons) did not concern about the contaminants in their food, food particularly vegetable and products are contaminated with pesticides and chemicals respectively. Risk foods such as meat and seafood had been kept in the same ice boxes and there had a chance to be cross contaminated.

Incidence of outbreaks occurred at different events in 2005

40 35 30 Amount of Event 25 20 15 10 5 0 Household School Community Social Extension gathering Others Undefine

Improving food safety, Improving food security 6 2548 .. !

200

Chemical Contaminants Found in Imported Foods

Pesticide Dried food Dried Mushroom -shitake (n=25) -white (n=32) Dried Seaweed (n=22)
Carbazin Organopho sphate

SO2
<1500 ppm

Aflatoxin Lead < 20 ppb

Cd

6 (24%) 28 (87.5%) 22 (100%)

14 (56%) 23 (72%) 13 (59%)

14 (44%) -

25 (100%) 32 (100%)

22 86% 19% (100%)

 Pesticide Residue in Dried shitake

76% contaminated with carbazin (0.05-1.7) 44% contaminated with organophosphate (0.002-0.2)

Bleaching Agent (SO2) in dried white mushroom

56% found 1530-4150

Lead and Cadmium in dried seaweed

14% found 1-1.9 ppm 91% found > ppm

Food safety receiving greater attention?

Several economic consequence of unsafe or contaminated food:
The values of crops and animal products spoiled and destroyed as a result of such contamination Value of rejections/detentions in the export trade Medical treatments cost Loss of output or earnings from morbidity, disability and premature death Reduce quality of life

Food safety receiving greater attention?

Several factors affecting food systems:
The growing movement of people, live animals, and food products across borders. Rapid urbanization in developing countries. Increasing numbers of immune compromised people. Changes in food handling and consumption. Emergence of new disease or emerging pathogen such as antibiotic resistant strains

Food Safety as a trade issue

As the source and consequence of foodborne illness are better understood so developed countries are strengthening their food safety control. New regulations in developed countries certainly have implication for developingcountry food producers and processors. The stringency in food regulation increases the cost of exporting.

To help developing- country exporters maintain market access, therefore the food industry needed support as :
Technical assistant Investment by producers New policies in developing countries particularly National Food Policy

Different Food Safety and Food Security perspectives related to:

While many low income consumers will continue to have access to food process and retailing sector, But those operate in the modern sector may decide to adopt food safety standard and models from developed countries. The challenge is how to regulate food safety in the growing modern food sector without driving out the traditional activities that still serve an important economic function.

Strategies to strengthen food security

Asian Integrated food security (AIFS) framework and strategic plan of action on food security in the ASEAN region (SPA-FS) 2009-2013 have been set the action programe as: Promote agricultural innovation including research and development on improving productivity and agricultural production Promote closer collaboration to accelerate transfer and adoption of new technologies Encourage greater investment in food and agro-based industry to enhance food security

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Challenges to promote Food safety awareness in term of food security

Can be undertaken at the individual or community level. Individual and community can attempt to change their behavior by implementing good practices in food preparation In case of toxin from animal/ plant origin individual may change their diets to avoid risky food such as the consumption of puffer fish, horse crab etc.

Challenges to promote Food safety awareness in term of food security

At community level, mycotoxin formation in crops can be limited before harvest through GAP such as Relating crops Irrigation to eliminate drought stress Controlling weeds Cultivating mould- resistant variety Introducing biocontrols such as non-mycotoxigenic fungal strains Postharvest measures include drying rapidly by mechanical means or keep crops dry

Challenges to promote Food safety awareness in term of food security

Cleaning water at community level is the key important factor to assure food safety Protect water sources and using as Irrigation water Promote clean water system in community Utilization of food technologies can increase the availability of foods by extending shelf life and can contribute to their safety. Food safety education for food handlers is the most critical for microbiological hazards and will protect the heat of consumers.

In conclusion, food should be considered not only an agricultural and/or trade commodity, but also a public health issue. Food safety must be integrated along the entire food chain, from farm to table, with the three sectors-government, industry and consumerssharing responsibility. It is essential that food safety forms an essential component of National Food Policy of that country. National food control strategies have to develop with the support of the various sectors.

However, many of these practices to accomplish food safety goals could be defined and adopted by countries. Such efforts are more likely to bring in export market. And without price incentives, people are not like to be motivate to chronic risk that are not apparent to them. Thus, it will be the challenged for all to reach the target of food sustainability in the future.

Thank you For Your Attention