Food safety is a fundamental aspect of public health. Scientists across Europe ensure that the food we consume is free from contaminants and safe for consumption. Continuous research in food safety is crucial to address emerging challenges, enhance regulatory frameworks, and protect consumers from foodborne illnesses and health risks. On this World Food Safety Day, we want to highlight the significant initiatives driven by the passionate experts in our network to advance food safety through collaborative efforts and innovative projects.
Collaborative Task Forces Addressing Key Food Safety Challenges
Over the years, ILSI Europe has established many Task Forces (TF) to tackle critical issues in food safety. These TF bring together specialists from various fields to review the scientific evidence available and build concensus on diverse challenges. Open for more than 30 years or just a few, our current TF focus on:
- Food Contaminants: Improving scientific knowledge on food contaminants to ensure safer products.
- Packaging Materials: Scientifically addressing the main challenges in the safety and quality of food contact materials.
- Microbiological Food Safety: Providing science-based guidance on microbial issues for more efficient food safety systems.
- Microplastics: Stimulating translational research and improving the understanding of the impact of microplastics on human health.
- Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC): Expanding the use of TTC for toxicological health risk assessment associated with substances at low exposure levels.
- Alternatives to Animal Testing: Joining forces for the replacement of animal studies in food science.
- Food Allergies: Improving the assessment and management of food allergen risks to protect sensitive consummers. Have a look at their latest open access publication, released just today!
To complete our protfoio and further strengthen food safety initiatives, but also directly address industry needs, ILSI Europe is launching two new Food Safety task forces:
- Risk Analysis for Food Safety: This Task Force aims to unite risk assessment and risk communication disciplines. Expert Groups will focus on designing risk assessment methods through the lens of risk communication and perception. Activities will target achieving realistic risk assessments, optimizing uncertainty boundaries lying around the reality of risk.
- Food Allergens Analytics: At the 2023 Food Allergy Forum, analytical companies demonstrated interest to collaborate on harmonising analytical methods for food allergens. We brought them together to explore their precompetitive needs and begin working collaboratively.
EU Funded Projects: TITAN and CATALYSE
Together with partner organisations from accross Europe, we are also actively involved in two significant EU-funded projects addressing Food Safety challenges. The TITAN project aims to increase transparency throughout the food supply chain, from production to consumption. By leveraging advanced technologies and data analytics, TITAN seeks to improve traceability, enhance consumer trust, and ensure the integrity of the food supply. CATALYSE focuses on fostering innovation in food safety practices. Through collaborative research and development, this project aims to introduce cutting-edge solutions to address current and future food safety challenges.
Commitment to a Safer Food Future
On this World Food Safety Day, ILSI Europe reaffirms its commitment to advancing food safety through collaborative research, innovative projects, and science-based guidance. By addressing current and emerging challenges, ILSI Europe continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring that our food supply remains safe, transparent, and trustworthy for all consumers. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated scientists and experts within our expert groups, task forces and governance bodies for their unwavering commitment to advancing the field of food safety.