Environmental Health Crucial to Food Safety

摘要

In its forst decade, the european food Safety Authority (EFSA) has made huge advances in addressing the risks posed by pathogens, contaminants, and additives along the whole food chain, from primary production to final consumption ("Amid Europe's food fights, EFSA keeps its eyes on the evidence," K. Kupferschmidt, News Focus, 30 November 2012, p. 1146). Consistent with its role in protecting food security, EFSA also has a mandate to assess risks to plant health from introduced pests and diseases (7). Yet, measures to secure the integrity of the food chain increasingly require assessments of risks, not to humans, crops, or livestock, but to the environment.