Food Safety Assessment: Overview of Metrological Issues and Regulatory Aspects in the European Union

Abstract

The safety of the food we consume has a direct impact on individual and population health and affects the economic growth of the region where food security is practised and enhanced. The central goal of the European Commission’s Food Safety policy is to ensure a high level of protection of human health covering the whole supply chain. In recent years, great attention has been paid to food testing and the application of metrological tools to support food safety. The global food market and national and international food safety regulations have created a huge demand for the measurement traceability and comparability of analytical results that are independent of time or space boundaries. This review provides an overview of the European food safety policy and regulation, with a focus on the measurement-related elements of the European Union (EU) food law. It also highlights how the application of analytical techniques, with particular reference to separation approaches, and metrological tools can ensure the control of certain contaminants that nowadays represent the main challenges for food safety (e.g., mycotoxins, nanoparticles, emerging and process contaminants). METROFOOD-RI-Infrastructure for promoting metrology in food and nutrition is therefore described in this context. This European research infrastructure has been developed and is being implemented in the frame of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) to support metrology in food and nutrition and establish a strategy allowing reliable and comparable analytical measurements in food across the entire process line, from primary producers to consumers, and making data findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR).

Machine learning approach as an early warning system to prevent foodborne Salmonella outbreaks in northwestern Italy

“…However, the main challenge to this approach has centred on sampling considerations. As microbial contaminants can occur at multiple stages of the food supply chain, the effectiveness of the active surveillance system depends on the accuracy of the sampling process [ 57 , 58 ]. Therefore, any gaps in active monitoring activities or reduced sampling efforts for food products in certain areas could lead to oversights.…”

Application of Biosensors for the Detection of Mycotoxins for the Improvement of Food Safety

“…As per the definition provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), food safety pertains to the assurance that food, when prepared and consumed as intended, does not inflict harm upon the consumer [ 97 ]. Legislation concerning food safety in developed nations is extensively harmonized, constituting a cornerstone of health protection.…”

“…This system comprises a set of regulations designed to uphold the highest standards, safeguarding the health and economic interests of consumers [ 98 ]. Additionally, it includes established control standards addressing the hygiene of food and food products, animal health and welfare, plant health, and the prevention of the risk of contamination with external substances [ 97 ]. In the realm of ensuring the safety of food, producers bear the responsibility of mitigating risks to consumers through their actions.…”

“…These activities encompass ensuring the effectiveness of control systems and evaluating compliance with standards in food safety and quality, animal health, animal welfare, and animal nutrition and health. Collaborating with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) contributes to establishing a scientific basis for risk management [ 97 , 100 ].…”

Food Quality and Safety: Advances in Analytical Methods and Applications

“…The Special Issue is "virtually" open by a review on metrological issues and regulation in the European Union with a specific focus on contaminants such as mycotoxins [42], contaminants of emerging concern [43], nanomaterials [44], official controls of process contaminants [45], metrology for food safety (e.g., method validation), proficiency testing [46,47], reference materials [48] and illustrating the METROFOOD-RI [49].…”