"Trust in science for safe food" is the motto of EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, committed daily through 10 scientific groups to coordinate the scientists who work to make the food chain safe and to give guidelines for policy to legislate.
"It's not food if it's not safe": this is the motto that Barbara Gallani, Director of EFSA communication who spoke in Turin during the Food Journalism Festival, has chosen to describe EFSA's commitment to guaranteeing the safety of the food we carry on our boards. Food science is in fact very complex, and the contribution of scientists to ensure that the information circulating is accurate is fundamental. “We are facing global challenges, such as climate change, which also have a major impact on food. In fishing, for example, small increases in temperature are enough to change the food chain in the seas and oceans and see toxins and parasites appear that were not present until a few years ago. " EFSA's job is to study, prevent and control these phenomena and to make food safety information clearer and more accessible to the public.
Jean Philippe DOP Deputy Director OIE - World Organization for animal health, founded in 1924, spoke about animal health and prevention from communicable diseases from animal to man, it includes 182 countries and more than 300 collaborating centers, including the Italian Zooprophylactic Institute . Despite an increasing attention and attraction of investments for plant-based products, 75% of the world population living on less than USD 2 per day (about 1 billion), depends on and feeds on animal products.
Better management of animal diseases therefore impacts on economic, nutritional and human health aspects, since 60% of infectious diseases affecting humans depend on animals. Hence the concept of onehealth, or a unique link between animal, human and planet health.
Unfortunately, diseases know no frontiers, there is no area that is so remote that it cannot be reached and no human being so disconnected as to be protected from risk: a very topical issue. Dop cites the 5 T rule (trade, travel, transport, tourism, terrorism), which can contribute to the spread of diseases globally.
The main focus of the OIE concerns the creation of international standards, complete transparency on the situation of animal health at a global level, the collection and dissemination of scientific information and full solidarity between countries: "by doing this we promote food safety, with the aim the last one is to guarantee a dish full, safe and nutritious. "
