NUTRITION

Food safety. On September 26, the first round of meetings ended of the Codex Alimentarius, sponsored by FAO and WHO. The participants adopted two documents: on good practices for handling allergens in food and the general principles of food safety. The second and last round of this year’s Codex meetings will be between October 12 and 19. There, the final report will be approved, which will include all the agreements reached by the entity in 2020.

The first document provides guidance on the management of allergens in food production and controls to prevent an allergen agent from transferring from one food to another. In addition, the design of food packaging must be adequate to minimize the possibility of product contamination and take place for the corresponding labeling. Finally, prepackaged foods must be labeled with clear instructions so that the next person in the food chain can safely handle and store the product.

Meanwhile, the second initiative includes updates for better enforcement of food safety controls by food businesses. The four controls that must be carried out are: water quality (which reduces the presence of biological and chemical hazards); fecal contamination (combat foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella); hygiene of food handlers; and surfaces in contact with food.

Next steps

With support from FAO and WHO, the Codex Alimentarius approved on September 26 two initiatives on good practices for the management of allergens in food and the general principles of food safety. The Codex Alimentarius will meet again between October 12 and 19, with the aim of continuing to discuss the current state of the food sector and approve the final report with all the agreements reached by the entity this year.