The fruit of cooperation: better, safer food

摘要

In recent years, multiple alimentary problems concerning human health (mad cow disease, Salmonella poisoning), the threat of starvation in certain areas, the worries connected with "junk food" and obesity, and the moral challenges involved in Genetically Modified Organisms, have contributed to bringing the issue of food safety into the limelight. ISO/TC 34, Food products, with its 13 subcommittees, has been working towards the goal of improving food quality and safety for several decades, and its portfolio of standards, adopted by many industries worldwide, has proved most useful in setting test methods, defining product specifications and providing the technical standards to ensure that food products conform to acceptable levels for human and animal health. Furthermore, in addition to the interest generated in the new horizontal standard now under development, ISO 22000, Food safety management systems, the work of the committee is expanding to tackle issues such traceability and detecting the use of GMOs.