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As production systems changed and food chains lengthened to meet the needs of a globalized industry, the potential for contamination at different points along the chain also changed. To address this, the Codex Alimentarius Commission began in 2009 to update its guidelines for the development and implementation of standards to help ensure the microbiological safety of food. However, these efforts soon reached an impasse. Many countries, especially developing countries, were uncertain about the technical aspects and questioned how the guidelines would affect their food and trade sectors. In response, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, with support from FAO staff, established a novel mentoring program, forming teams through which experienced national mentors work with less experienced trainees to streamline the development of safety standards. Ultimately, the new guidelines were finalized by the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene in November 2012.
Every year, millions of people fall ill from foodborne illnesses, ranging from salmonella in dried spices to E. coli in meat. These hazards result in acute and chronic illnesses for those affected, as well as billions of dollars in medical expenses, lost productivity, food recalls, and lost markets. In the United States alone, it is estimated that one in six citizens suffer from foodborne illness each year, with total costs exceeding $35 billion. In Australia, the rate is one in four, costing $1.2 billion per year. While estimates are not available for developing countries, it is presumed that their incidence rates are at least as high, if not higher.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), the United Nations organization responsible for setting the world’s food safety and quality standards, provides guidelines to help countries develop national standards and regulations to deal with issues such as microbial contamination. In 2009, recognizing the impact of the globalization of the food supply and the increasing complexity of the food chain on agricultural product safety, the Codex Alimentarius Commission set out to update its guidelines on microbiological criteria. The aim was to meet the new realities of food production and trade and to take advantage of emerging risk assessment methods. Traditionally, food control standards have required testing of the final product – if a batch of food tested positive for contamination, it was not allowed on the market. If the test result was negative, it was considered safe for consumers.
But this strategy tested only a small fraction of the food that entered the market. Today, modern food safety management focuses on implementing control measures throughout the food chain and setting standards at different points in the chain. This not only allows problems to be detected early, but also monitors whether the control measures are effective or whether corrective action is needed. However, three years later, there has been little progress as many countries, especially developing countries, have difficulty understanding the new methods and their practical application. They worry that they lack the expertise or appropriate background data to develop and implement new microbiological standards. So when the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) suggested developing a guidance program to break down the complex issues into more understandable elements – with mentors from developed countries sharing their knowledge through teams – the idea was immediately accepted.
Sharing knowledge to overcome obstacles
With FAO support, the Codex Alimentarius Commission established seven teams, each focusing on a different potential hazard or commodity. Each team consisted of an experienced mentor and trainees from several less experienced countries, who met virtually for a year to hone their real-world cases to inform the new guidelines. FAO staff facilitated the process, supporting any communication, procedural or technical issues that arose as participants worked across different time zones and languages.
For the trainees, this had a positive impact on multiple levels. The mentoring process provided a valuable learning experience that improved their understanding and ability to handle complex topics. When all teams gathered in Parma, Italy, for a working group meeting in May 2012, they were able to share their knowledge, data and learnings with members of other teams and meet with key national experts, which enabled them to establish future exchanges. For example, in order to strengthen its knowledge of risk analysis in the poultry industry, Colombia can use its relationship with Denmark, its mentoring country, to improve its understanding, use and application of microbiological criteria and support ongoing risk assessment processes.
Increased knowledge and awareness lead to new standards
The Codex Alimentarius Commission has always approached microbiological criteria through guidelines rather than strict food standards, to give countries the flexibility to adapt or adopt the guidelines to best suit their food systems. In drafting the guidelines, we took care to ensure that the concepts explored and elaborated by the team were taken into account. Therefore, when the guidelines were presented to the Committee on Food Hygiene in November 2012, developing countries recognized that their voices were also part of the document, and after a three-year delay, the Committee agreed the guidelines and submitted them to the Commission for final adoption in July 2013. These guidelines will provide guidance on how to use microbiological criteria in food safety management at the national level, supporting national efforts to ensure safety and thus contributing to the control of foodborne diseases.
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