Can we eliminate food scares?
Food contamination alerts are on the rise, with almost daily episodes of product recall in many countries, which do not prevent dramatic consequences. Although inevitable, there is an answer: we must reinvent ourselves and adopt innovative solutions.
So, let’s do it!
With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually (http: /www.fao.org/about/meetings/future-food-safety/en/), unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies. That’s why the United Nations declared June 7, International Food Safety Day, a day to bring food safety into the spotlight, to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.
These concerns are fully shared by Kersia. We were created just a year ago, bringing together the skills and expertise of international players in biosecurity solutions for the farm and agri-food sector. Having met many active players in every segment of the food chain over the past 12 months, I have reached the following two conclusions:
– Food safety is – more than ever – the number one concern, unfortunately, product recall and withdrawals are almost daily occurrences. The danger comes from the diversity of health risks attached to the food chain, from increasingly complex production processes and distribution channels, and also the need to improve the control chain.
– To remedy this, we must reinvent control and preventive measures upstream of the production chain.
Yes, a lot has already been done. Food safety is a complex process that begins at the farm and ends with the consumer. The food processing sector has made significant efforts to adopt ISO or HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certification measures. Contract specifications negotiated with suppliers and distributors require strict traceability measures. Traceability makes it possible to react competently when an incident or crisis occurs, to track products potentially at risk quickly and locate the source of the problem. Governmental and health authorities in many countries keep strengthening their regulations in this area. Consumers, naturally attracted by competitively priced food, nevertheless, pay more attention to health risks. Monitoring systems for foodborne illnesses and alert management systems are increasingly effective. Now, we must reduce their occurrence.
To do this, we must have new innovative tools combining chemistry, biotechnologies and digital technology. Farmers and food processing companies will soon have those tools to anticipate problems. Reinforcing prevention through anticipation will help reduce production loss, improve overall quality, create value in the food chain, and more importantly, better protect consumers.
At Kersia, we want to be at the forefront of this change. Innovation is at the heart of the DNA of our Group and its mission: “Inventing a food safe world”. We focus our research efforts on this quest for disruptive solutions. This is the ambition that unites our team. This is the promise we make to our employees so they can flourish at work and contribute to the realization of our vision of a food safe world.
Sebastien Bossard is Chief Executive Officer of Kersia
(Dinard, France, June 7, 2019)
