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View all search resultsFood safety prerequisite for food security
Nutrition and safety – critical components of that definition – are often forgotten or are not addressed properly.
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F
ood security has often been simplified and conceived of merely in terms of having sufficient food. This simplification is not in compliance with Food Law No. 18/2012, which defines food security as “the fulfillment of food needs for every individual, in terms of quantity, quality, safety, diversity, nutritional value, availability and affordability, as well as in terms of its compliance with religion, beliefs and cultures, to live healthily, actively and productively in a sustainable manner”.
Nutrition and safety – critical components of that definition – are often forgotten or are not addressed properly.
The development of food security without improving food safety and nutrition will not achieve the ultimate objective of having every individual “live healthily, actively and productively in a sustainable manner”. This is a critical issue that the government must solve to achieve the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Consequently, all elements of food security, especially food safety, must be addressed simultaneously to achieve the goal mandated by Law No 18/2012.
As stated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), if it is not safe, it is not food. So food security really starts with food safety. This has been particularly apparent during the pandemic.
The importance of food safety is illustrated by a report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report concludes that food safety problems, especially foodborne illnesses, cause almost one in 10 people to fall ill, resulting in about 420,000 deaths every year.
Nevertheless, according to WHO, the figure may still be an underestimate.
