International Food Safety Research Articles

Applications of Big Data and Blockchain Technology in Food Testing and Their Exploration on Educational Reform.

This study reviews the applications of big data (BD) and blockchain technology in modern food testing and explores their impact on educational reform. The first part highlights the critical role of BD in ensuring food safety across the supply chain, discussing various data collection methods, such as national and international food safety databases, while addressing the challenges related to data storage and real-time information retrieval. Additionally, blockchain technology has been explored for its ability to enhance transparency, traceability, and security in the food-testing process by creating immutable records of testing data, ensuring data integrity, and reducing the risk of tampering or fraud. The second part focuses on the influence of BD and blockchain on educational reform, particularly within food science curricula. BD enables data-driven curriculum design, supporting personalized learning and more effective educational outcomes, while blockchain ensures transparency in course management and credentials. This study advocates integrating these technologies into curriculum reform to enhance both the efficiency and quality of education.

Will the development of smart agriculture improve food safety in international markets? A theoretical approach

Today, there is a significant “digital divide” in the agricultural sector between developing and developed countries. Such a digital disparity has negative consequences on the international competitiveness of these countries and their ability to comply with Food Satefy Standards. We propose a theoretical model to analyze the role of smart agriculture in the ability of countries to comply with international food safety regulations, specifically the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for contaminants such as aflatoxins, pesticides,and heavy metals. Firstly, we show that reducing the digital divide will always improve international food safety and food security (availability of a global supply). However, it can lead to more intense international competition, potentially causing a perverse effect: underinvestment in good agricultural practices by more digitally advanced countries. Furthermore, the digital catch-up of less advanced countries cannot sufficiently reduce health risks in international markets unless accompanied by strengthening official food control systems. Finally, we show that such digital catch-up encourages lowering MRLs rather than relaxing them, contrary to what producers or authorities might hope.

Elemental content and safety evaluation of wild-harvested Australian abalone (Haliotis spp.) viscera: Addressing safety concerns in food waste upcycling

Abalone viscera has been shown to be a valuable human nutraceutical, yet the food safety considerations of consuming whole abalone viscera have been largely overlooked. Hence, this research was conducted to investigate and evaluate elemental compositions and safety of it. The elemental data was compared to international food safety regulations and evaluated using the USEPA hazard index (HI) equation and HI-derived estimated upper limit (EDUL) equation, which EDUL allows comparison of novel foods with a large variety of similar existing products. To further demonstrate that food safety of upcycled food could be improved with simple processing, a risk mitigation trial was conducted. The results indicated that whilst heavy metal levels (mg/kg) and HI were shown to reach unsatisfactory food safety levels, this exceedance was likely caused by overestimation in daily consumption. The EDUL results supported this explanation and demonstrated that abalone viscera posed no safety concern even when eaten in quantities similar to common shellfish. The risk mitigation trial was as well successful, demonstrating up to 32 % reduction in HI. The findings identified options to evaluate and improve safety of novel food and can be a case study to evaluate, understand and overcome food safety challenges in other upcycled food.

Research on Using K-Means Clustering to Explore High-Risk Products with Ethylene Oxide Residues and Their Manufacturers in Taiwan.

Considering the frequency of ethylene oxide (EtO) residues found in food, the health effects of EtO have become a concern. Between 2022 and 2023, 489 products were inspected using the purposive sampling method in Taiwan, and nine unqualified products were found to have been imported; subsequently, border control measures were enhanced. To ensure the safety of all imported foods, the current study used the K-means clustering method for identifying EtO residues in food. Data on finished products and raw materials with EtO residues from international public opinion bulletins were collected for analysis. After matching them with the Taiwan Food Cloud, 90 high-risk food items with EtO residues and 1388 manufacturers were screened. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration set up border controls and grouped the manufacturers using K-means clustering in the unsupervised learning algorithm. For this study, 37 manufacturers with priority inspections and 52 high-risk finished products and raw materials with residual EtO were selected for inspection. While EtO was not detected, the study concluded the following: 1. Using international food safety alerts to strengthen border control can effectively ensure domestic food safety; 2. K-means clustering can validate the risk-based purposive sampling results to ensure food safety and reduce costs.

WITHDRAWN: Elemental content and safety evaluation of wild-harvested Australian abalone (Haliotis spp.) viscera: addressing safety concerns in food waste upcycling.

Abalone viscera has shown to be a valuable human nutraceutical, yet the food safety considerations of consuming whole abalone viscera have been largely overlooked. Hence, this research was conducted to investigate and evaluate elemental compositions and safety of it. The elemental data was compared to international food safety regulations and evaluated using the USEPA hazard index (HI) equation and HI-derived estimated upper limit (EDUL) equation, which EDUL allows comparison of novel foods with a large variety of similar existing products. To further demonstrate that food safety of upcycled food could be improved with simple processing, a risk mitigation trial was conducted. The results indicated that whilst heavy metal levels (mg/kg) and HI were shown to reach unsatisfactory food safety levels, this exceedance was likely caused by overestimation in daily consumption. The EDUL results supported this explanation and demonstrated that abalone viscera posed no safety concern even when eaten in quantities similar to common shellfish. The risk mitigation trial was as well successful, demonstrating up to 32 % reduction in HI. The findings identified options to evaluate and improve safety of novel food and can be a case study to evaluate, understand and overcome food safety challenges in other upcycled food.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Local and International Food Safety Standards in Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises (SMEs) of Pakistan

Pakistani small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) have an important role and contribute less than other countries, yet their significance cannot be denied. The SME sector is confronted with multiple problems, including export issues because of the trust factor and least knowledge of the latest food safety standards, which have made it difficult to contribute to the GDP of the nation. Various standards such as Food Safety, HACCP, GGAP YUM GAP, MacDonald’s GAP, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 are being implemented in Pakistan for decades. This study was designed to highlight the critical issues of Pakistani SMEs in adopting management systems, i.e., food safety management systems. Data from 107 SMEs from different fields (beverages, baking, meat, postharvest processing, etc.) of Pakistan were collected through a detailed questionnaire and fed to SPSS V 26.0 for statistical illustration and articulation of the results. In this study, SME company profiles were analyzed and showed that 43% had 6–20 employees, 78.5% were manufacturers, and 68.2% were in business for 7–15 years. The focus was on sales growth (35.5%), profit growth (38.3%), return on assets (42.1%), gross revenues (47.7%), net cash flow (46.7%), customer satisfaction (47.7%), and customer satisfaction relative to competitors (46.7%). A total of 21.5% of SMEs implemented local standards, 23.4% implemented international standards, and 54.2% implemented both local and international standards. Certification benefits included establishing an effective system (62.6% agreed), understanding roles and responsibilities (76.6% agreed), and more efficient documentation (60.7% agreed). However, 29.9% and 24.3% of respondents found international standards such as FSSC 22000 and BRC challenging to apply in local organizations due to language and cost barriers. Above all, the current study implies the dire need for the development of Pakistan’s food safety management system (PFSMS) standard. The PFSMS should be easy to understand, low in cost, and highly applicable in different sectors of the SMEs in Pakistan.

Advances and challenges in animal source food inspection legislation for Brazilian small-scale and artisanal producers.

The strict sanitary inspection legislation of animal source food has been considered a trade barrier for smallholder farmers and small-scale producers in Brazil. In this sense, law flexibilization is suggested to facilitate national trade of these products. We conducted a social and sanitary analysis, presenting the current Brazilian conjuncture and difficulties for animal source food Brazilian inspection law flexibilization. By discussing inequalities, human rights issues, animal source food legislation, and international food safety standards, we evidenced critical barriers for legislative reform in Brazil. Among these barriers, the main ones are social inequalities; high zoonotic risk of animal source food products; the Brazilian political structure and its reflection on different inspection practices among country jurisdictions; and the lack of inspection services in most Brazilian municipalities. At the same time, we present positive updates in the normative framework, and point out game-changers to modify the actual safety and trade situations of Brazilian small-scale and artisanal animal source food products, including policies to strengthen state and municipal inspection services and harmonization initiatives based on international standards and national legislation. We also suggest policies to implement inspection services in municipalities, whether by municipal action or by a consortium, as well as policies to strengthen technical assistance and rural extension for small-scale and artisanal producers. These policies aim to reduce technical and sanitary education inequalities and build a fairer animal source food system.

Survey of dermestid beetles using UV-light traps in two food industry facilities in the Czech Republic: One year field study

There is a growing interest in stored product Dermestidae species due to their capacity to damage and contaminate stored products of animal and vegetable origin. Limited published information is available on surveys of these pests in museums, grain commodity storage facilities, and mills, with a noticeable absence of surveys in the food industry. Notably, information on dermestid monitoring using a colour or UV light sticky traps, which are required as part of international food safety standards and ISO pest control procedures for food facilities, is lacking. This study represents the first report on dermestid surveys conducted in a beverage and a food packaging facility premises using traps that combine UV light with yellow sticky plates in central Europe. A total of 1031 dermestid beetle individuals were captured in the two facilities during a one-year survey period. During the sampling period, there was a seasonal trend with the maximum captured individuals from spring to early autumn, and no individuals during winter. These population fluctuations followed a similar pattern in the two facilities. In total, 13 species belonging to five genera were identified. The highest cumulative captures were found for Reesa vespulae and Anthrenus verbasci found in both facilities, followed by Trogoderma glabrum, which occurred in high numbers in the food packaging facility. Our data indicate that R. vespulae (an invasive species) is attracted to UV light + yellow traps, and its high frequency and abundance suggest that since its first isolated detection in the Czech Republic in 1987, it has proven to be a significantly spreading pest species.

Confronting standards-making in food safety: Standards recalibration and regulatory reforms in China’s dairy industry

In 2012, the Beijing First Intermediate Court’s ruling reignited public controversy over a 2010 revision of China’s national raw milk standard. A consumer rights activist filed an open information application, requesting that China’s Ministry of Health disclose meeting minutes related to the revision. His request hinged on public perception that China’s dairy corporations helped lower quality and safety thresholds for domestic raw milk supplies, while the country still reeled from the 2008 melamine scandal. The case re-emerged as Chinese policymakers, seeking to strengthen and respond to domestic and international food safety concerns, crafted and revised standards and restructured government agencies to address shortcomings in the 2009 Food Safety Law. As the case unfolded, China was flexing its international power in standards-setting despite criticism of its domestic standards regime. Grounded in fieldwork conducted during this period, I trace the intersection and dissonance between standards, regulations, and best practices crafted by government institutions and private sector actors alongside their recalibration in practice. I use the 2010 revision debate to explore the efforts of scientific experts and government officials to convey the standard to different actors, not as acts of translation but rather as acts of transformation, as regulations and regulatory practices move across disparate sites and media.

Determinants and impacts of contract farming: evidence from cultivation of onion, okra and pomegranate in Maharashtra, India

PurposeThis study investigates the impact of contract farming in onion, okra and pomegranate production on profits of smallholder farmers in India. It also investigates the determinants of farmers’ participation in contract farming. The study is based on a survey of 1,131 farmers from Maharashtra, India engaged in the cultivation of these three crops.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses instrumental variable regressions and quasi-experimental methods to decipher the impact of contract farming.FindingsThe study reveals that contract farming ensures higher returns for smallholders, enables their access to high-end markets and brings in risk-sharing with protection during price fluctuations. Farm size and farmers’ risk perceptions are significantly associated with their participation in contract farming.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on cross-sectional data, which presents limitations on considering unobserved farmer-level individual heterogeneity.Originality/valueThe study shows that contracts highlight the functioning of the contractor/integrator on both the input and output sides of the market. By providing better-quality inputs on credit and at discounted prices and by providing training, the integrator helps small farmers meet international food safety and quality standards, a historically difficult challenge for smallholders in India.

Use of high-resolution mass spectrometry for veterinary drug multi-residue analysis

National and international food and feed safety authorities are shifting from routine-to risk-based monitoring. Risk-based monitoring requires flexibility in the scope of analytes, matrices, and sampling. Also, risk-based monitoring implies a desire for retrospective analysis using different scope(s) to follow trends, identify new food safety threats, and monitor the effectiveness of policy interventions. The current availability of sensitive and accurate high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) fits within this approach. This writing reviews the applicability of HRMS techniques for food control laboratories in the analysis of veterinary medicinal products and hormones in food, using HRMS and legislative background. Different HRMS measurement and data evaluation strategies are identified and discussed. Among them, routine screening and confirmation, suspect screening, semi-untargeted analysis (common mass pattern search), metabolite and degradation product identification, profiling for deviating samples, physiological markers or treatments, and identification of unknowns can be found. The food safety competent authorities could shift from methods with predefined scope to real risk-based monitoring by implementing HRMS for routine food and feed analysis.

First report of Colletotrichum fioriniae causing anthracnose fruit rot on Vaccinium corymbosum in Chile.

Vaccinium corymbosum L. is the most cultivated blueberry species in Chile. Chilean fruits typically take up to 50 days to reach oversea markets; therefore, controlling post-harvest pathogens is of outmost importance to maintain international food safety and quality standards. In February 2019, the Microbial Genetic Resources Bank at INIA received fruits of V. corymbosum cv. 'Brigitta Blue' from Mariquina (-39.567869, -72.992461), located in the southern Chilean blueberry production zone, for post-harvest disease diagnosis. Asymptomatic fruits were incubated in moist-chambers at 25 °C with light/darkness cycles of 12 h. After 5 d, some fruits showed sunken areas and small surface wounds that exudated orange masses of conidia; under the epidermis, gray acervuli were also detected. After 15d, these fruits became dehydrated, mummified, and covered by mycelia, all characteristic symptoms of anthracnose (Wharton and Schilder 2008). In Chile, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides has, thus far, been the only causal agent of anthracnose reported in blueberry (Lara et al. 2003). Conidia exudated from the diseased fruit were inoculated on potato-dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25 °C for 7 d. The resulting colony was predominantly cottony with gray aerial mycelium, displaying masses of pale orange conidia; on the reverse side, the colony was a pink-reddish color. Under a microscope, conidia were hyaline, fusiform to elliptic in shape, and displaying guttulate of 12.2±1.2 × 4.17±0.3 μm (n=30), characteristics coinciding with those described for Colletotrichum fioriniae (Pennycook 2017; Shivas and Tan 2009) (Supplementary Figure 1). The isolate was deposited in the Chilean Collection of Microbial Genetic Resources (CChRGM) as RGM 3330. Genomic DNA extraction of RGM 3330 and phylogenetic analyses were carried out according to Cisterna-Oyarce et al. (2022). A multi-locus sequencing analysis was carried out using five genetic markers. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh), actin (act), and chitin synthase 1 (chs-1) were PCR-amplified following Damm et al. (2012) and beta-tubulin (tub) following Glass and Donaldson (1995). Sequences were deposited in GenBank (ON364141 for ITS and ON369167-70 for tub, act, chs-1, and gapdh, respectively) (Sayers et al. 2021). A BLAST analysis carried out in SequenceServer (Priyam et al. 2019), using a custom database of sequences retrieved from Damm et al. (2012) and Liu et al. (2020), showed that all genetic markers were 100% identical to those of C. fioriniae CBS 128517T (ITS (540/540 identities), gapdh (249/249), act (245/245), and chs-1 (274/274)), except for tub, which shared 99.8% of its identities (416/417) with this species. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic estimation clustered RGM 3330 with C. fioriniae strains CBS 128517T and CBS 126526 with 100% bootstrap support (Supplementary Figure 1). Koch’s postulates were carried out with asymptomatic fruits of V. corymbosum cv. 'Brigitta Blue'. Prior to inoculation, fruits were surface-sterilized for 10 s in 70% ethanol, 3 s in 1% NaOCl, 10 s in 70% ethanol, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, and subsequently placed in moist-chambers. Two groups of three repetitions of 20 fruits each were sprayed with 9 × 106 conidia/mL of RGM 3330 for the first group and with sterile distilled water for the control. After 5 d at 25 °C with light/darkness cycles of 12 h, only fruits sprayed with the conidial solution developed symptoms of anthracnose and the re-isolated fungi were identical in morphology to RGM 3330. This is the first report of C. fioriniae in blueberry in Chile.

Risk assessment of human Hg exposure through consumption of fishery products in Ceará state, northeastern Brazil

The contamination of fish and aquaculture products may prove an obstacle to achieve the economic potential of the fishery sector worldwide. Seafood is a key source of Hg exposure to human consumers. Thus, it is necessary to monitor current contamination levels and formulate future scenarios of exposure to pollutants as supporting measures to improve, in the short and medium term, the sustainability of the fishing sector and guarantee food safety. In the short term, players in the private sector and governmental agencies need to provide up-to-date production data and to follow international recommendations, as it relates to seafood quality and sustainable production chains. Here, we provide an assessment of the fishery production in Ceará State, Brazil, and synthetize the present knowledge on Hg concentrations in fisheries and aquaculture products associated with their relative economic and consumers' diet relevance. The present assessment serves as a model study to produce a regionalized inventory of Hg concentrations in accordance with the national and international food safety guides and to estimate the risk of exposure to Hg of human populations through fisheries consumption. We show that legal Hg limits does not represent safe consumption levels, as exposure risk is a combined effect of trophic level, a proxy of Hg concentrations, consumption rates, and consumer age/weigh group. Most seafood species in Ceará have no restriction to human consumption, with a few exceptions. Children at a subsistence level mainly consuming fish are at most exposure risk. The overall information is graphically presented aiming to increase public perception on the theme and proposition of mitigating actions by the respective stakeholders.

Assessment of Ecological and Toxicological State of Soils and Waters in the Neighborhood of Mining Industry Enterprises in the Armenian Highlands

The article presents the results of the seven-year study on the state of arable lands and wastewaters in the districts of mining enterprises in Armenia. An assessment of the ecological and toxicological state of wastewaters and contaminated areas was carried out. Methods for their purification are proposed aimed at their further use and obtainment of environmentally safe agricultural products. An area of about 0.5 ha, next to the rural community of Syunik in southern Armenia, has been polluted for many years by mining sludges from the nearest mine watertight cofferdam of the Zangezur copper-molybdenum combine. Activities have been carried out to clean up the soil in this area. After plowing, soil improvers (zeolite, bentonite, and manure) were introduced into the soil. On-site treatments, soil tillage, and the introduction of soil improvers into the soil was implemented in late autumn. Soil and plant samples were taken to determine the content of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Co, Mo, Ni). In the following spring, the area was planted with potatoes, eggplant, and peas. A rather high yield was obtained. Analysis of plant samples showed that the content of heavy metals does not exceed the permissible level of the international food safety standard. At the same time, soil studies were carried out in the adjacent areas of the Sotk mine, located to the southeast of Lake Sevan. It was revealed that due to the increase in the volume of the mining industry and the amount of rock dumps, the organoleptic and chemical indicators of the waters of the Sotk and Masrik rivers deteriorated. Compared to the previous decade, the amounts of suspended particles per 1 L of water have increased by 210…317.0%, in the waters of Sotk-by 32.1 mg/L, and in the waters of Masrik-by 13.2 mg/L. The same tendency is observed regarding the amounts of nitrates, sulfates, and hydrogen index, which is mainly due to the chemical composition of rocks. They contain a large amount of Ca, K, Na, Mg, etc. This trend is especially noticeable along the rivers, where intensive agriculture, primarily livestock farming is carried out. The material of the work solves a complex of environmental and economic problems. It is aimed at ensuring environmental safety, improving the ecological and resource properties of soils, increasing the productivity of cultural phytocenoses and the sanitary and hygienic quality of food products.

Metal pollution and potential human health risk assessment in major seafood items (fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods)

Global seafood consumers are increasingly concerned about and prefer safe, high-quality, and hazard-free seafood products. This study investigated various Pakistani processing plants supplying the international market and explored commercially important seafood species (fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods) for metal content, contamination, and potential health risks. The results showed that the metal concentrations differed significantly among species. The metals loads were as Fe > Cu > Zn > Mn > Pb > Ni > Cd > Hg. Contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and metal pollution index (MPI), verified negligible contamination of seafood. As assessed by the estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient, hazard index, and carcinogenic risk, the potential human health risks associated with the contaminated seafood were lower than the perceived threat. In conclusion, seafood processing plants export products that meet international food safety standards and are safe for consumers worldwide.

Development of a food handling practices assessment tool based on the Sri Lanka food regulations.

Neither the current assessment tool of Sri Lanka for food establishments is based on prevailing Food Regulations 2011 nor did its focus cover serious adaptions for precautions upon prevention of the diseases. The study aims to develop a food handling practices assessment tool based on the Sri Lanka Food Regulations 2011 and to assess food handling practices using a developed tool in the Regional Director of Health Services area, Kalutara. The study consisted of developing food establishments' assessment tool (FEAT) in accordance with Food (Hygiene-1742/26) Regulations of Sri Lanka 2011 and assessing the food establishments using the developed tool in the Regional Director of Health Services area, Kalutara, Sri Lanka. The development of FEAT was carried out to mark inspection scores for food establishments conforming to Food Regulations, others reviewed international food safety protocols and agreements following key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Fully developed FEAT was transferred to a mobile application for ease of use, and assessments were conducted among 421 food establishments in three Medical Officer of Health areas. FEAT contained 11 domains including 75 items with more than 100 assessment points including a guide to conducting an assessment of food handling, compared to the current version of the assessment tool in Sri Lanka. The majority of participants included in the qualitative assessment agreed to include a 1-5 scoring scale to report hygiene levels and to use hygiene regulation to develop FEAT as a legal basis. The highest percentage of food establishments (69.4%) in the "Good" category were in the Bandaragama Medical Officer of Health Area and the highest percentage of food establishments (54.5%) in the "very poor" category were in the Walallawita Medical Officer of Health Area. Food establishments taking precautionary measures, which are not assessed in the current tool, were good, but maintenance of processing area and installation of overhead structures and fitting were poor in food establishments in all three Medical Officer of Health Areas. The novel food assessment tool FEAT is a completely valid instrument for food establishments. It is designed for easy administration and supports reliable assessments. Overall food handling practices of food establishments in the Kalutara Regional Director of Health Services area following assessment with FEAT were in the "satisfactory" category.

Processed food exports from developing countries: the effect of food safety compliance

AbstractThe study investigates the impact of developing countries’ ability to comply with international food safety standards on processed food exports, based on the structural gravity modelling framework and a novel dataset from 2002 to 2018. The constructed variable on international food safety compliance is derived from import refusal records from the US Food and Drug Administration. The findings indicate that international food safety compliance is a significant factor in explaining inter-country differences in processed food export performance. The ability to meet international food safety standards matters for processed food exports from developing Asia to developing country markets and the USA, but it has a limited influence on Asian processed food exports to the European Union.

Structural Equation Modeling of Food Safety Standard in the Cassava Industry in Thailand

Food safety is becoming more important in Thailand, especially when the country officially joins the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in the year 2015. In this study, key food safety factors and their associated items were mainly extracted from the two international food safety standards: the HACCP and the GMP standards. The questionnaire survey was used to collect data from cassava manufacturers for the exploratory factor analysis and the structural equation modelling. The analysis results revealed seven key factors in enhancing food safety standards: 1) Management, 2) Man, 3) Environment, 4) Material-Related, 5) Method, 6) Machine, and 7) Raw Material. The structural equation modelling results revealed causal relationships among the seven key factors. It was found that the Management factor is the most important factor in enhancing food safety standard in Thailand as it influences all other factors, both directly and indirectly. Management should, hence, set up realistic food safety policies, assign appropriate safety responsibility to the lower levels, and provide adequate necessary resources to improve food safety in the cassava industry.

Nutritious food and health risks: a review on the edible land snails of Africa

Snail meat is a source of food and livelihood for many inhabitants especially in sub-Saharan Africa. They are consumed in households or traded at local and international markets. However, African land snails are rarely farmed but picked from environments that include decaying vegetation, soil debris, and untreated human and household wastes. These ‘snail natural habitats’ may contain microbial pathogens that could easily be ingested by snails and transmitted to snail meat handlers and consumers. The objective of this study was to investigate published information that establishes the local consumption practices of African land snails as a credible source of foodborne infections. Acknowledging the nutritional benefits of consuming snails, this research revealed local practices in snail gathering, handling, preparation and preservation could significantly contribute to foodrelated disease burdens to Africans and several African snail meat-exporting countries. With this, national and international food safety regulations are required for African snail meat consumption.

Determination of Growth and Export Performance of Mango in India

India is one of the world's leading mango producers, generating more than half of the global supply. Mango exports from India in the year 2021-22 was 27,872.77 MT. Mangoes are accessible all year as fresh fruit and processed goods. However, in recent years India's export was failed to meet the international food safety requirements due to Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary problems. Hence, this study focussed on estimating the growth from 1991 to 2020 and the direction of mango exports from 2011 to 2020 from India. The time series data of mango area, production, productivity and export in quantity and value were collected from various publications like APEDA, Horticulture statistics at a glance. Over the entire period, production was significant at the one per cent level and the productivity of mangoes was increased. This study found that the export quantity and its value increased significantly and positively. But quantity was not equal in proportion to the growth rate of export in terms of value. The transition probability matrix revealed that UAE (United Arab Emirates) and Nepal were the stable markets for Indian mangoes, with trade retention of 59 and 22 per cent, respectively. This study suggested that developing norms for producing safe mangoes as knowledge advances would make it easier to grant, maintain and move forward with Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs).