Journal of Food Processing & Technology

Food safety standards and consumer confidence: Are we on the right direction?

5^th Euro-Global Summit and Expo on Food & Beverages

June 16-18, 2015 Alicante, Spain

Nuri Gras

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Consumers are the most important issue to focus on food safety and as consumers, they have the right to expect food commodities we purchase and consume will be safe and of high quality. Unfortunately, mandatory standards enacted by public institutions are limited for a determined country, but food chain does not become global. Therefore, food safety standards make by private institutions have emerged from social concerns (consumers risks perceptions) to major food markets. In this context, international food safety standards of private organizations have emerged to guarantee safe food in addition to mandatory requirements and to accomplish demands of consumers. However, the high amount of food safety standards for particular markets (mainly EU and USA), have caused innumerable efforts and additional costs that producers have to complain in order to be competitive in those external markets. The challenge of food safety standards for both public and private organizations is to harmonize food safety schemes in order that all stake holders of the global food chain will be benefited. Additional issues also should be considered in order to involve all stake holders and create global food value chain, as the case of enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, besides the pro-active role that should accomplish consumers as responsible of safe food inside their homes, reduce food waste and choice best food to be healthy (nutritional food safety).