NUTRITION & BUSINESS

Food safety. The 52nd meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH) concluded on March 9. The meeting, in which all the member countries of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated, approved a proposed draft on the control of foodborne biological outbreaks. It was also agreed to continue studying the proposed drafts on the control of Escherichia coli in beef and the use of water in food processing. The initiative approved in this forum will have to be considered by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the first step toward becoming Codex standards in the medium term. It can then serve as a guide for interested countries to implement its recommendations. 

The approved proposed draft contains guidelines for the management of foodborne biological outbreaks that propose guidelines for the competent health authorities to deal with the situation. Its scope is limited to biological hazards only, as it explains that they are the predominant cause of such outbreaks, reaching food sources or particular places such as restaurants. In terms of prevention, it proposes that information collected in food environments, including food contact surfaces in food businesses, will help to identify the sources of outbreaks. 

In addition, during the meeting, the progress of the proposed draft guidelines for the control of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in raw beef was presented. The text proposes recommendations on the correct cooking and handling of meat to ensure its safety at the time of consumption. Among them, it suggests controlling the sanitation of preparation and consumption sites, and separating raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination. Finally, the proposed draft guidelines for the use and reuse of water in food processing, which seeks to provide information and microbiological criteria to food business operators and governments on the use of water throughout the food chain, were also discussed. Both texts will continue to be studied. 

Next steps

The Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (CCFH), together with representatives of FAO member countries, made progress in considering proposed draft bills on food safety and security, the control of Escherichia coli in beef and the use of water in food production. The Codex Alimentarius is a set of non-binding standards and recommendations designed to guide countries on food safety and quality. This could have an impact on the decisions of the governments of the region that participate in these forums, particularly in the case of El Salvador. 

Opportunities for engagement

As for the approved bill, once it is adopted as a Codex standard, it is up to the governments to implement regulations in line with the established recommendations. At this point, McDonald’s will be able to participate in the debates promoted by the executive and legislative branches to discuss good practices in food hygiene. As for the initiatives that are still being reviewed for adoption, it is possible to participate in discussions promoted by the Codex to refine the wording and incorporate new guidelines to strengthen the bills.