The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has launched a comprehensive, practical and accessible toolbox designed to help all those involved in the food sector adhere to international food hygiene standards.
The FAO GHP and HACCP Toolbox , released to the public on 7 June to coincide with World Food Safety Day 2023, is based on the Codex Alimentarius , a collection of standards, guidelines and codes of conduct managed by FAO and WHO that aim to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in the food trade.
The toolbox translates the extensive set of guidelines and standards governing Good Hygiene Practice (GHP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) into information that can be easily acquired via an FAO website.
Particular attention was paid to addressing the challenges faced by small food operators and producers in low- and middle-income countries.
The website has been designed to work well on portable mobile devices, which are much more popular than computers in some developing countries.
Why a food safety toolbox
The overall goal of the FAO GHP and HACCP Toolbox is to provide all food business operators, both on the farm and throughout the value chain, and regardless of size and location, with a tool that allows them to better interact with local food safety authorities to produce, process and distribute safe food .The tool is also aimed at those in an institutional role, such as government officials, academia and organizations engaged in development activities.
Corinna Hawkes, Director of FAO's Food Systems and Food Security Division, said: "This tool not only provides internationally agreed principles of food security, but also establishes a common language within which countries can negotiate and food businesses can communicate with each other on food security."
Strengthen food safety. For everyone
There is a direct correlation between situations of food shortages and increased threats to food security. With 600 million people affected by foodborne illnesses and 420,000 deaths each year from contaminated food, one of FAO's priority areas is to help ensure safe food for all.Together with WHO, FAO provides the advice that forms the scientific basis of the Codex Alimentarius standards , and also lends support in implementing the standards and developing legislative frameworks to ensure food safety.
FAO GHP and HACCP Toolbox initially available in three languages (English, French and Spanish), is among the resources that help such initiatives.
The technical aspects were jointly developed and reviewed by FAO food safety officials and a team from the Department of Food Science at the University of Guelph in Canada.
Its contents include guides to personal hygiene, how to educate outside visitors entering a food production site, the correct procedure and frequency for washing hands, and tips for appropriate clothing.The aim is to collect feedback and possibly expand the toolbox to provide more in-depth guidance for other sectors of the agri-food system, such as fisheries.
Academia has already expressed interest in using it as a basis for creating courses dedicated to food safety. (Source: https://www.foodandtec.com/ )
FAO GHP and HACCP Toolbox →