Food safety issues and Outbreaks in Americas Food Supply - Research Paper Example

Food safety issues and Outbreaks in Americas Food Supply Introduction The supply and maintenance of safe food to the population is a complex system involving stakeholders both of who must do their jobs properly lest the food supply is contaminated leading to health risk to the millions of the consumers. The food chain thus provides the appropriate structure to manage and communicate any possible health risk in the food supply before they reach the consumers and cause unprecedented damage. Since most food originates from agricultural origin, there are several processes a food passes before it reaches the consumer. Among the steps are the procurement of farm inputs, production process, manufacturing practices, retailing practices and all these processes have the capability of determining quality of food which in turn affects the health of the consumers. The food chain thus provides the best platform in which the safety of food for consumption can be managed properly and efficiently.An effective risk management practice is thus required in order to protect the consumers from developing health complications that arise from food consumption. Ensuring food safety to protect the public health and promote economic development remains a challenge to America due to variety of food produced in their country. Considerable progress has been achieved to strengthen food safety programs with most emphasis given to ways of preventing food borne diseases. Food borne risk in humans can arise due to biological, chemical and physical causes both of which are equally dangerous to human health.In the past few decades, risk management, risk assessment, risk management and communication have been advanced to help tackle new challenges which arise from food insecurity. Health trends Many nations are realizing the human health and monetary burden that foodborne diseases pose to their economy. in the United States, food borne diseases results to about 76 million illness and over 300, 000 hospitalizations leading to about 5000 deaths every year (WHO, 2005). The research service in the U.S.A department of agriculture consumes over 7billion Dollars annually in the research of foodborne diseases caused by Campylobacter, Salmonella, Escherichia and Listeria. Foodsafety is thus a matter of public concern in most counties due to deaths and economic burden it causes in the long run (WHO, 2005). Eating disorders is also a major problem related to food safety issues since most people lack proper eating habits in their diets. Eating disorders usually stars when the child id young especially at elementary school level and they may proceed into adult hood resulting into health related problems (Stanfield, 2010). Among the eating disorders are Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa among others and they have negative effects to humans and thus should be avoided at whatever costs. People should prescribe to health practitioners to guide them on proper diets so that they evade unhealthy eating habits which have negative consequences. Improper eating habits are largely contributed by the sedentary lifestyle of most Americans leading to decreased energy needs and improper BMR conditions. Improper consumption of more calories than expected results in to obesity hence it is prudent if people realize that obesity is caused by overconsumption of calories and not fattening foods. Eating a balanced diet of moderate proportions coupled with regular exercise is important in maintaining right energy balance required by the body (Stanfield, 2010). Changing food safety environment The link between the hazards and in food and the potential of causing illness is sometimes hard to establish and requires advanced scientific knowledge in health related issues. Challenges still pose major threat to food safety in America due to technical hitches that arise form ever changing environment.International trade agreements developed under the world trade organizations under the WHO emphasize the need for regulations governing food supply and distributions due to ever changing food and safety environment. Among the agreements is the application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures that permit counties to take legitimate measures to protect the life and health of its citizens in response to ever changing food safety environment.These agreements direct a country to ensure that the sanitary and the Phytosanitary rules and regulationsare followed and according to the internationally accepted standards (WHO/FAO, 2006). Evolving food safety concerns The responsibility for food safety is shared by everyone involved in the food supply chain for it to be effective in the long run. The growers of various crops, the transporters, the processors, the regulators and the retailers all share equal responsibility as far as food safety issues are concerned. The government is also entrusted with providing an enabling institutionaland regulatory framework which is responsive to food safety concerns. The WHO has been working for several decades in collaboration with national governments, scientific institution and food industry to improve the safety and quality of food in circulation to avoid health hazards. Some of the elements of food safety concern should include good laws and regulations with good institutional capacity to handle the food safety concerns. The scientific capacity with integrated management approach is also critical in handling food safety issues and prevents health hazards. Diagnostic and analytical laboratories should be established with good standard setting supported with good infrastructure and equipment to effectively tackle food safety issues. The government is also expected to establish monitoring structures with enormous capabilities to offer effective surveillance on human health problems related to food intake. The personnel should be trained on emergence response and offer adequate public information whenever necessary together with education and proper communication in good time (WHO/FAO, 2006). Changing global factors that affect national food safety systems Over the past decades, these has been increased volume of international trade which results to increased food supply in various forms and various places which equally increases the risk of food contamination. Due to increase in trade and demand, the world has also witnessed increased complexity of food types resulting from divergent geographical sources making the consumers to be divided between options on the variety of food to consume. Some of these sources are cumbersome to trace hence increasing the risk of food safety. Increased industrialization and intensification of agriculture both in plants and animal production is resulting to a lot of complexities in food health issues. Increased travel and tourism is also leading to a lot of demand in particular food supply most of which are new varieties leading to ever changing food handling programs further exposing the consumers to health risk status in food supply. The world is continuously witnessing a changing dietary patterns and food preferences which lead to new food processing methods in a faster rate exposing the consumers to health risk. The new food and agricultural technologies also results into increasing resistance of bacteria and antibiotics which pose health risk to humans who consume such foods (WHO, 2005). Food hazards Many of the hazards have been recognized and addressed by the concerned bodies while others are continuously developing posing very serous health hazards in the food chain. The changing global complexities are the results of the continuous problems and they require global cooperation to address their effect fully. Among the hazards that gained global attention are the mutant protein that cause the ‘mad cow disease’ which send shock waves to all corners of the globe due to its adverse health risk. Biological hazards that may occur in food include infectious bacteria, toxin producing organism, moulds, parasites, viruses and prions and they have great potential to cause heath risk to human beings. The chemicals with potential to cause health risk in food include naturally occurring toxins, food additives, pesticides residues, veterinary drug residues, environmental contaminants and chemical contaminants and also the allergens (WHO, FAO, 2006). The physical components in food with potential of causing health hazards include metals, machine fillings, glass, jewelry, stones and bone chips and they are equally dangerous for human health. Risk analysis Risk analysis can be used to support and improve the development standards hence addressing the food health issues in time before they pose risk to the consumers. The food safety regulators also need the risk analysis information so that they can apply appropriate measure in good time to help protect the public. Risk analysis can be used to obtain information and evidence on the level of risk of a certain food hence enabling the relevant authorities take the precautionary measures in good time. The relevant authorities can decide to revise their limits of regulatory measures if any, increase their testing frequency or review the labelingrequirements and provide adequate information to the consumers. The process of conducting risk analysis enables the authorities to identify the control mechanism along the food chain and enable them address the problem exhaustively. The successful use of risk analysis requires a country to have essential foundations of food safetyso that they can effectively handle the complex food safety issue. Applying risk analysis to food safety problems offers advantages to all parties with stake in these matters in supporting decisions that are proportional to all public health risk involved. Outbreaks in America food supply Food can harbor harmful microorganisms with the potential of causing illness to human beings therefore human should maintain and keep health lifestyles. America has witnessed food related problems just like any other country in the globe despite its robust technology in diagnosing and prevention of food related health. In July, about 285 cases of intestinal illness were reported from cyclosporine infections leading to several hospitalizations in 11 states attracting a huge public health concern. This single celled parasite cause diarrhea and stomach crumps and the only possible way of entry into the human system is through contaminated water or foods which are eaten (Thompson, 2013). Earlier outbreaks of clyclospora have been traced to fruits and vegetables therefore it’s likely that the disease has been caused by food substances in circulation in the states of America. The people are thus advised to wash their hands carefully before consuming any food and to consume food from trusted sources in an attempt to avoid the disease. Conclusions Infection from contaminated food id real and is affecting most of the people who consume food on daily basis; therefore,proper risk analysis procedures need to be put in place in order to protect most consumers from potential risk. The concerned agencies need to be put in place which takes care of global dynamics so that the risk analysis practices are effective enough to tackle the health concerns. Proper communication between the concerned agencies and the consumers also needs to be facilitated in good time to enable them to be properly informed of the potential health hazards. References Stanfield, P.S. (2010).Nutrition and Diet Therapy: Self Instructional Approached. California. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Thompson, D. (2013). U.S. Health Officials Still Tracking Source of Stomach Bug Outbreak. Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2013/07/25/us-health-officials-still-tracking-source-of-stomach-bug-outbreak WHO.(2005). Global Salm Survey.WHO Library Catalogue.Retrieved fromhttp://www.aphl.org/conferences/proceedings/Documents/2007_11th_Annual_PulseNet_Update_Meeting/Salm_Surv.pdf WHO/FAO. (2006). Food Safety Risk Analysis: A guide to national safety authorities. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/riskanalysis06.pdf Read More