Chapter 47 - Food Safety During Pandemics: A Focus on COVID-19

Abstract

Since the beginning of this millennium, the transformation of the global food system, including new technologies and expansion of food trade, has attracted public attention in many countries. Despite this interest, many countries still lack the tools that allow them to protect their food supply and public health. These problems represent a diverse and widespread challenge for those working to ensure quality and safety of food supply and its availability at anytime, anywhere in the world. Consequently, the second IUFoST Global Food Summit entitled Strategies and Actions for Sustainability of Future Food Systems was conducted by IUFoST to address these challenges. The discussion tackled concerns regarding food safety and security during pandemics with a special focus on the current COVID-19 which food regulators considered it a foodborne hazard. However, evidence has shown that this is not the case, as COVID-19 is not considered as a food hazard rather it has created a food security risk. As a result, food regulators have to maintain the integrity of their regulatory function through adaption giving a priority to protecting workers at the work environment by maintaining distancing and work reorganization, hand washing, use of protective equipment, cleaning surfaces, and raising awareness.