Abstract
This work describes the relevance of food policies and governance to reach food safety issues along a heterogeneous food chain, in the context of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) food security definition. Using personal interviews with agents in the food chain, and secondary data from 2014–2018, this exploratory research demonstrated that: (a) Mexican food policies regarding food safety are oriented to the exports markets and/or high income producers-consumers; (b) this has split the agri-food chain in two: one serving international and/or high income consumers, and another serving domestic markets; (c) the agri-food chain that serves domestic markets experiences regulatory budget shortfalls, lacks coordination in food regulations across its agents, and brings about alternate informal markets that put peoples’ health and financial stability at risk, especially those lower-income consumers. Only 0.7% of producers, 12.5% of supermarkets and 42.8% of restaurants have some type of food safety certifications. This is worsened by the way public resources have been distributed, focused, prioritized, and planned. If the differences between big, medium and small producers continue to increase, it will increase regional and individual inequality, leading to two different countries: one developed and one developing, challenging its sustainable development.
Highlights
IntroductionIn accordance with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) [1] “food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”
The purpose of this research was to demonstrate that: (a) Mexican food policies and governance regarding food safety issues are oriented to export markets and/or in high income producers- and consumers; (b) how this situation has split the agri-food chain in two: one that serves international or high-income consumers, and another that attends domestic markets; (c) the agri-food chain that attends domestic markets experiences shortfalls in the federal budget expenditures devoted to food safety issues; (d) there is a lack of coordination in food regulations, across domestic agri-food chain agents, bringing about alternate informal markets that put peoples’ health at risk, especially lower income consumers, increasing illness and poverty, challenging food security
Information from personal interviews confirmed most of the information related to certifications, as well as some opportunities, challenges and scarcities that some agents in the agri-food chain face
Summary
In accordance with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) [1] “food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. This definition highlights food safety as an important component reaching food security, along with its economic, physical and social accessibility to all people, all times. Ahatttahmeosuanmtseatnidmveo, ltuhmesees (ptoolgiicvieesacscheossutlodaclol poerdopinleaatell athnedtigmive)e, wsuitphpeonrotu, grehsqouuarlciteys(,niuntfrriatisoturus cture, and asnudpesravfeis).ioAnt tothaellsaamgeenttismien, tthheesfeoopdolicchieasinshionuoldrdceorotrodinreaatechanthdeggivoealssufpoprotrht,e rweshouorlecess,ystem (Figuisnyrefsrta1esm)t.ru(Fcitguurere, a1n)d. supervision to all agents in the food chain in order to reach the goals for the whole
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