ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Traditional food markets frequently have inadequate infrastructure, limited access to potable water, unsanitary conditions, and inadequate storage facilities, making them especially risky places for the growth and spread of foodborne pathogens. Traditional markets also often lack effective government oversight. Government programs are important for providing a foundation to manage food safety by setting and enforcing minimum food safety and quality standards and by establishing uniform standards for the conduct of food businesses. Four regional guidelines developed by the Codex Alimentarius to improve the safety of street-vended food were examined for their application to traditional food markets. These guidelines provide important standards that can be used to improve food safety in traditional food markets in many countries, including advice to governments and market authorities in the areas of policy and regulation, infrastructure, food handling, vendor health and hygiene, and training and education. The guidelines can be supplemented with additional material from the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. However, given the gaps identified in the individual regional guidelines, a uniform international standard is needed for national, regional, and local governments to use when managing food safety in traditional markets.
Subject(s)
Food Safety , Legislation, Food , Commerce , Dietary Supplements , Humans , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
Antimicrobial use in food animals selects for antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, which can spread to people. Reducing use of antimicrobials-particularly those deemed to be critically important for human medicine-in food production animals continues to be an important step for preserving the benefits of these antimicrobials for people. The World Health Organization ranking of antimicrobials according to their relative importance in human medicine was recently updated. Antimicrobials considered the highest priority among the critically important antimicrobials were quinolones, third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, macrolides and ketolides, and glycopeptides. The updated ranking allows stakeholders in the agriculture sector and regulatory agencies to focus risk management efforts on drugs used in food animals that are the most important to human medicine. In particular, the current large-scale use of fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and third-generation cephalosporins and any potential use of glycopeptides and carbapenems need to be addressed urgently.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Drug and Narcotic Control , Food Safety , Animals , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use , Humans , Risk Management , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
5a Reunión de la Comisión Panamericana de Inocuidad de los Alimentos (COPAIA 5). Organización Panamericana de la Salud; Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 10 de junio de 2008.
5th Meeting of the Pan American Commission on Food Safety (COPAIA). Pan American Health Organization; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 10, 2008 .
5a Reunião da Comissão Pan-Americana de Inocuidade dos Alimentos (COPAIA 5). Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde; Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 10 de junho de 2008.
