Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture  

Based on the principles of GHI, Ensuring Global Food Safety: Exploring Global Harmonization offers a rational and multi-faceted approach to current food safety issues, while arguing that a science-based global regulatory framework will enhance the safety, availability and quality of the food supply worldwide. GHI was specifically established to help build global consensus on the scientific evidence underpinning food safety policymaking. This book provides practical examples in key areas such as microbiology, toxicology and nutrition, as well as discusses possible improvements necessary to sustain the integrity of the global food supply in the 21st century. Get a 20% discount by using Code 98440 when you order your copy from Academic Press/Elsevier...   

The finalisation of new food safety regulations for nutraceuticals in the Indian market or manufactured in India was the focus of discussion at 9th Nutra India Summit Conference in Bengaluru, India in March 2014. Prof. MS Swaminathan, was honoured with a lifetime achievement award and spoke about zero hunger as a key challenge for achieving food and nutrition security. Dr. Thyagarajan, former Director of India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories, suggested a global research alliance for nutraceuticals development should be created, which could be a platform for industrial innovation.

Dr. V. Prakash, Vice-President of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and GHI Executive Committee Member, talked about how R&D for nutraceutical claims should be evidence-based, which will lead to self-regulation and involve ethical marketing with transparent public policy. Speaking on innovations in nutritionals, naturals, nutraceuticals and ayurceuticals, in relation to epidemiology and the struggle with the regulations, Dr. Prakash said, "The journey from concept to product approval to marketing of nutra-products is pebbled with firestones of hard labour and hardcore science that, ultimately, must reach the consumer with all its claimed benefits at an affordable cost."

The three-day event dealt with various issues, such as research areas of new nutra-ingredients and policy matters with the emphasis on the future for nutraceuticals and nutritionals in the global arena, safety, global policies, protecting intellectual property rights for products and processes, principles governing the ethical and legal marketing of such ingredients, maintaining the quality of products, and the need to develop human capital for the industry. Other topics discussed included creating value through product management, communication, branding and delivering value through customer confidence and the need to educate consumers about efficacy and safety of the products.

The role of nutra-ingredients in maintaining good health was another key area of discussion, which included innovations in protein research for structure-function and efficacy, which go beyond the amount and source of protein, amino acid content and peptides; lycopene-rich supplements for managing osteoporosis; and plant bioactive components to prevent Alzheimer's disease and the potential of compounds such as curcumin from Indian turmeric and green tea catechins in this area. In addition, probiotic mechanisms of action, in terms of desirable and functional characteristics (e.g., adhesion to intestinal epithelium, antagonism against pathogens, stimulation of the immunological system and beneficial metabolic activities on the host) were also presented.

The conference concluded with a topical discussion on the regulation of nutraceuticals fortified with vitamins and minerals. Speakers from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Thailand gave a global view and the seminar attracted wide discussion. The meeting ended with a note that the 10th Nutra India Summit Conference will be at Mumbai, India, 18-20 March 2015 in the Hotel Lalith. The conference was graced by the presence of IUFoST president Dr. Pingfan Rao, secretary general Dr. Judith Meech and president-elect Dr. Rickey Yada.   

--By Jamuna Prakash, GHI Ambassador, India

Global Food Legislation: An Overview  

Editors: Evelyn Kirchsteiger-Meier and Tobias Baumgartner  

GHI Ambassadors hail from more than 40 countries. For more information about becoming a GHI Ambassador, please email Dr. Alina-Ioana Gostin, GHI Ambassador Programme Director.

Prof. Dr. Vlasta Pilizota

GHI Ambassador, Croatia          

I was appointed GHI Ambassador for Croatia in June 2012. It was my wish to join this network of organisations and individuals, after 33 years of professional and scientific career at the University of Osijek and the Faculty of Food Technology, Josipa Juraj Strossmayer, Croatia. I have been involved in many national and international activities, attending meetings and collaborating with other national and international scientists, institutions and associations. In doing my research and teaching students, my aim is to broaden my horizons (and theirs) and to build connections with other scientists all over the world, especially but not only with those who share the same (similar) ideas in different fields of interest as well as contributing in different ways. Joining GHI was a logical outcome of these activities.   

Currently, I am taking every opportunity to provide information about the GHI, certainly among my younger colleagues, many of whom are former or current students. I am also working to identify experts in Croatia who are willing to join GHI Working Groups, attending meetings with the Croatian Food Agency, and participate in GHI activities. Other contributions include presenting at the recent CEFood 2014 in Macedonia, IFT Annual Meeting 2014 in New Orleans, and IUFoST 2014 in Montreal. I am also proud to be one of more than 1,400 food scientists who earned Certified Food Scientist (CFS) credentials at the IFT Annual Meeting 2013 in Chicago.

Montenegro

Dr. Aleksandra Martinovic
GHI Ambassador, Montenegro

 

The food production and agriculture sector has an important role in the economy of Montenegro with agriculture contributing 11.3% of the GDP. However, despite this importance, there are numerous issues associated with this sector not least because it is slow growing and offers very limited competitiveness.

 

An increase in competitiveness, through various forms of support for agriculture and food processing industries, has been identified as a priority by various strategic documents. Scope for improvement in this sector is wide, but one of the issues is inadequate quality standard level (hygiene and environment) - in other words, food quality and safety. The reasons for this are two-fold; ensuring a stable and acceptable supply of food in terms of quality and price is one of the objectives for the national agricultural policy, which is expected to contribute towards growth and increased competitiveness, but food safety is linked directly with public health, and protecting and improving the health of consumers should be among any country's top priorities. Montenegro needs to put significant effort into harmonising legislation with EU Acquis as it moves towards EU integration.

 

I was elected GHI Ambassador for Montenegro in October 2012. As a member of GHI, and a GHI Ambassador, I am determined to present GHI advice and set up goals, not only in Montenegro and through my connections at the University of Donja Gorica, Podgorica, but also in the region through existing networks. My ambition is to involve Montenegrin research and the wider scientific community, as well as stakeholders from food production, in contributing to GHI activities. The focus of my activities, involving as many national and regional experts as possible, is to strengthen links among scientists and exchange knowledge and experience. So far, I have spread the information through the Montenegrin scientific community and recommended experts take part in various GHI Working Groups.

Egypt

Morad S. Ahmed
GHI Ambassador, Egypt
 

As an accredited food safety and quality auditor and trainer in Egypt and the Middle East, I work to upgrade food processors to achieve compliance with international standards. I saw the benefits of joining GHI and have promoted its message of global harmonisation of food safety regulations in training sessions for both the state and private sectors.  

Many agri-food processors and exporters in the region understand the benefits of streamlining operations and adhering to international standards to ensure high quality and safe foods. However, they are often asked by international buyers to obtain more certifications, even if an exporter is already certified for HACCP, ISO 9001 and ISO 22000, and OHSMS or ISO 18001, and some also have ISO14001 (environmental compliance). If they want to continue exporting to Europe then additional certification, such as EuroGAP, BRC, IFS, and CSR (ISO26000), also are necessary. For US markets, FDA registration is required, and prior notice of each shipment and a local agent. Such certification and regulations poses a heavy financial burden on developing world agro-food processors and exporters, and fall into what WTO/ ITC would consider 'technical barriers to trade' (TBT).  

Joining GHI and serving as its Ambassador to Egypt gives me the chance to convey a message to these processors about those who care and work for more streamlined international trade, such as Global Harmonization Initiative.

Regulating the Low-Level Presence of Chemicals in Foods: The Way Forward        

GHI Working Group on Food Chemical Safety chair Jaap Hanekamp has penned an article on that shows that the chemical product safety of foods is a misnomer, partly because some chemicals regarded as synthetic are also natural. Moreover, he writes, the toxicity of chemicals is related to ingested dose and concomitant bioavailability rather than mere presence. The latter, unfortunately, has made central stage in many food safety policies because of vastly improved analytical capabilities. Read more in the August/September 2014 issue of Food Safety Magazine.  

NuFFooDS Spectrum Features GHI Interview with Huub Lelieveld

In an interview with the online e-news publication, NuFFooDS Spectrum, GHI president Huub Lelieveld shared his thoughts on the progress and achievements of GHI and the global harmonisation of food safety regulations. Read more...

More Publications of Interest... 

Effect of climate change on Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1 production

By Angel Medina, Alicia Rodriguez and Naresh Magan

July 2014, Frontiers in Food Microbiology

doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00348

Editor's note: The GHI Working Group on Mycotoxins, chaired by Professors Naresh Magan, Karina Grigoryan and Mark Shamtsyan, aims to (1) harmonise regulations so governments can require industries and others in the supply chain to use methods avoiding development of mycotoxins or reducing their concentration, and (2) to develop methods for the reduction of mycotoxin concentrations on contaminated staple foods.