Food safety systems are challenged by hygiene related problems: Experts

Indian food safety systems are challenged by the rapidly growing population, hygiene related problems, incidences of residues of antibiotics and heavy metals, food-borne pathogens, incidence of infectious diseases in food producing animals and anti- microbial resistance.These observations were made by experts addressing the recently-held National Symposium on Food Safety of Animal Origin, arranged during the XIII Annual Conference of Indian Association of Veterinary and Public Health.

Expressing his views at the symposium, Prof. Suresh S Honnappagol,animal husbandry commissioner, Government of India, stated, “The traditional production, processing and waste handling systems coupled with unhygienic practices in particular have tainted and tarnished the image of the Indian meat industry.” 

Further, a panel of experts pointed out that population and income growth were driving enormous increases in demand for foods of animal origin. Livestock production systems are facing increasing demands for livestock feeds relative to availabilities. Accurate assessments of current and future supplies and demands for livestock feed are needed for national food and feed security policy and planning. The development of National Feed Assessment Systems (NFASs) is suggested to support sustainable livestock sector growth. 

Dr C Renukaprasad, vice-chancellor, KVAFSU, Bidar,stated,“There is need to have extensive knowledge about the main health hazards associated with consumption of meat, poultry and eggs and their epidemiology in animals and humans. In addition, the risk analysis and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). There must be an awareness of international regulation concerning the safety of meat, poultry and eggs and related trade issues.There is also need to put in risk-based inspection procedures.” 

Considering these facts, the department of livestock products technology, Veterinary College, Bengaluru, along with the Indian Association of Veterinary Public Health Specialists (IAVPHS) is now focussing on bringing awareness on food safety. 

According to the department of livestock products technology, zoonoses are human diseases that can be acquired from animals. A disease that starts as a zoonoses may have the potential to develop into a major human communicable disease, leading to significant morbidity and mortality as in cases of avian flu and swine flu. 

Sixty percent of the pathogens that cause diseases in humans are of animal origin including zoonoses, which can be transmitted by domestic or wild animals. Animal diseases that are transmissible to humans, and must imperatively combated at every level. The most effective and economical solution to protect humans is to combat all zoonotic pathogens through their control at the animal source. 

This is where ‘The One Health Concept’ facilitated by a formal alliance between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), which is a global strategy to expand collaborations for healthcare of humans, animals and environment. It is aimed at preventing and controlling pathogens at the level of animal populations, at the interface between humans, animals and the environment.Implementation of these policies places not only veterinarians and animal owners in the front line but also people who regularly come into contact with wildlife and environment besides fishing. It involves new mechanisms requiring all these stakeholders to inform one another and act in a concerted manner, in association with public health managers. The joint action is for rabies, which still kills nearly 70,000 annually, zoonotic influenza viruses causing avian influenza and antimicrobial resistance,according to experts.