Introduction

Although Food Security is a well-known concept in Africa, Food Safety is frequently unknown or misunderstood despite its relevance to human health, the economy, and food system sustainability. 

How is Food Safety different yet related to Food Security?

While food security refers to the quantity of adequate food available, accessible, and affordable to a certain population, food safety refers to ensuring the harmlessness of any food to human consumption and health. Or, in other words, it considers whether the consumption of a certain food can cause any damage to human health. Naturally, when a food is unsafe for human consumption, it must be removed from the food chain. When this happens, the quantity of adequate food available for a certain group or population is decreased. Therefore, depending on the quantity of food involved and alternatives available, a breach in food safety can have a significant impact on food security. In the end, food safety is a critical aspect when it comes to food security evaluation and promotion.  

When and How can Food be Unsafe for Consumption? 

A food is considered unsafe for consumption when it contains any substances or contaminants potentially harmful to human health. For instance, a portion of food contaminated with a pathogenic microorganism, containing inadequate levels of pesticides and antibiotics, or pieces of broken glass, among many other examples. Usually, food safety is conditioned by handling conditions along the value chain, from farm to table. The cause of food safety issues is frequently related to incorrect handling conditions and procedures, including, for example, inadequate conservation time and/or temperature and lack of proper hygiene conditions during food storage, transport, and commercialization. 

How can Food Safety be Prevented?

Since human intervention is of major importance at all stages of the value chain, awareness and training of individuals are critical to promote and prevent food safety. 

Adequate handling procedures and hygiene conditions from farm to table may prevent the majority of chemical, physical, and microbiological contamination of food.

Furthermore, the use of adequate infrastructure and equipment to handle food along its value chain is also a critical condition. As well trained as handlers may be, if, for example, at some point, cold storage facilities are not in place, it won’t be possible to ensure proper conservation of perishable foods. 

Conclusion

A breach in food safety can have disastrous consequences, such as the consumption of unsafe food can have a severe impact on human health, sometimes leading to death, every time unsafe food is removed from the value chain, food security, economy, and environment are negatively impacted. Therefore, promoting and preventing food safety at all stages of the value chain, from farm to table, is of crucial importance. Food safety contributes significantly to increased food security and improved food system sustainability. 

Social Media: www.linkedin.com/in/leonor-assunção-6252947