Prakash Jamuna
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore, Mysore, 570 006, India.
J Sci Food Agric. 2014 Aug;94(10):1962-5. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.6147. Epub 2013 Apr 22.
Safe and adequate food is a human right, safety being a prime quality attribute without which food is unfit for consumption. Food safety regulations are framed to exercise control over all types of food produced, processed and sold so that the customer is assured that the food consumed will not cause any harm. From the Indian perspective, global harmonisation of food regulations is needed to improve food and nutrition security, the food trade and delivery of safe ready-to-eat (RTE) foods at all places and at all times. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) put forward to transform developing societies incorporate many food safety issues. The success of the MDGs, including that of poverty reduction, will in part depend on an effective reduction of food-borne diseases, particularly among the vulnerable group, which includes women and children. Food- and water-borne illnesses can be a serious health hazard, being responsible for high incidences of morbidity and mortality across all age groups of people. Global harmonisation of food regulations would assist in facilitating food trade within and outside India through better compliance, ensuring the safety of RTE catered foods, as well as addressing issues related to the environment. At the same time, regulations need to be optimum, as overregulation may have undue negative effects on the food trade.
安全充足的食物是一项人权，安全是首要的质量属性，没有安全，食物就不宜食用。制定食品安全法规是为了对所有生产、加工和销售的各类食品进行管控，从而确保消费者相信所食用的食物不会造成任何危害。从印度的角度来看，需要在全球范围内统一食品法规，以改善粮食和营养安全、食品贸易，并随时随地提供安全的即食食品。千年发展目标旨在转变发展中社会，其中纳入了许多食品安全问题。千年发展目标的成功，包括减贫目标的实现，将部分取决于有效减少食源性疾病，特别是在包括妇女和儿童在内的弱势群体中。食源性和水源性疾病可能会严重危害健康，导致各年龄段人群的高发病率和高死亡率。全球统一食品法规将有助于通过更好地遵守规定来促进印度国内外的食品贸易，确保即食餐饮食品的安全，并解决与环境相关的问题。与此同时，法规需要适度，因为过度监管可能会对食品贸易产生不当的负面影响。
