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Better hygiene in the kitchen, improving animal well-being and strengthening food safety in the food chain are all ways in which ANSES is proposing to combat pathogens and parasites on the plate.
In its #SIA2022 report, science for safe and healthy food, the national food safety agency (ANSES) unveiled ways to ensure consumer food safety at the agricultural show.
Improving animal welfare
ANSES works on a daily basis to limit epidemics and zoonoses, and this involves improving the living conditions of animals. The agency studies the complex interactions between pathogens and farming conditions. With the National Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, it monitors microbial resistance to antibiotics in farms, food and the environment, as well as bacteria that can contaminate consumers through food.
Enriching nutriviligence
“Nutrivigilance, a national system created in 2009, collects reports of adverse effects related to the consumption of food supplements, foods newly introduced into the French diet and fortified foods”, explains the agency. In 2021, ANSES issued several alerts: vitamin D overdose in children, confusion between edible plants and toxic plants, such as bitter gourds. These alerts provide consumers with better food safety.
Boost the quality of the food supply
Data from the Food Observatory (Oqali), run jointly by ANSES and INRAE, provide information on food quality, thanks in particular to the Nutri-score. ANSES is also studying the dangers associated with additives in processed products. A vast study carried out in 2019 had highlighted the importance of turning for manufacturers to other alternatives such as reducing the shelf life of the product.
Monitoring new food issues
ANSES also intends to study new food concerns, including conducting work on the presence of microplastics in food and assessing the risks to human health.
Another important issue is to guarantee the health safety of bulk sales by defining the right rules for the consumer to follow in order to limit bacteriological risks.