Promoting sustainable, safe food systems – enhancing the assessment, management and communication of food safety risks through a One Health approach Making our food system safe and sustainable is critically important for public health and the economy. The One Health approach assists in understanding how humans, animals and the environment are interconnected. The food supply system is complex and can no longer be described as a singular supply chain; as such, different sectors need to work together to identify hazards; quantify, manage and communicate risks; share data and information; prevent problems; detect and respond to emergencies and outbreaks; and ensure rapid information sharing during these events. When we manage food safety risks well, we protect people from getting sick, ensure animal health and welfare, as well as environmental considerations, build trust in the food system, and support longterm social and economic development. By Shirley Parring, Aluwani Madzivhandila and Penny Campbell of the Food Control Directorate, Department of Health, South Africa 9 Food safety risk assessment Food safety risk assessment begins with identifying potential hazards across the entire food system, from farm to fork. These hazards may arise from human, animal or environmental sources, all of which are interconnected. These hazards are then scientifically assessed for risk to human and animal health and the environment. Once risks are identified, risk management focuses on reducing them through coordinated actions across these sectors. This includes the development of regulations, guidelines and interventions aimed at detecting hazards, reducing or eliminating them and preventing animal or foodborne outbreaks, all aimed at protecting human, animal and environmental health. ACTION TRACK 4 11
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