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World leaders to address joint policies to mitigate food contamination
29 enero 2019

Sustainability

Environmental pollution: In January 2019, the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme, through the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), presented the report “Pollution Knows no Borders”. The document explains that the importation and exportation of spices, vegetables, packaged foods and meat products carry risks that can negatively impact on health.  GAHP therefore calls on governments to implement policies to reduce air pollution and on large companies to take responsibility for their supply chains. World leaders are expected to commit to concrete action on this at the United Nations Environment Assembly March 11, 2019.

In a report analyzing how environmental pollution and lack of regulation impact the consumption of food with a risk of causing diseases, the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme argue that several toxins – such as mercury, arsenic and pesticides – spread through water and air and can enter the food chain, which may apply to countries that do not implement strict pollution controls. The transit of edible products thus carries a risk that, to a lesser or greater extent, can negatively impact the health of end consumers. The paper argues that food contamination can occur at any stage of the production process, ranging from unsafe agricultural practices to the use of chemicals in product packaging.

The Alliance maintains that exposure to these toxins are more dangerous for children, due to the underdevelopment of their immune systems. The document calls on the international community to cooperate with relevant sectors to promote joint policies to mitigate environmental pollution. In addition, Baskut Tuncak, the UN special rapporteur on toxic waste, urged large companies to “be more attentive” to the risks coming from their supply chains and the life cycle of their products.

Next steps

These recommendations will be taken into account during the United Nations Environment Assembly, to be held March 11, 2019. In this event, world leaders are expected to renew their commitment to jointly fight pollution by implementing policies that, for example, improve pollution controls in the food chain.

 

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