Raising awareness of what we can all do to be prepared for the unexpected, regardless of our role in the "farm to fork" chain, was the goal of the round table organized by the Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food (HAPIH) in Osijek, on the occasion of the national celebration of this year's World Food Safety Day.

The round table was organized with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA).

The discussion on the topic "Food safety: Prepared for the unexpected", with assistant professor Darja Sokolić, PhD, Executive director of HAPIH, was attended by Gordan Jerbić, DVM, Head of the Department for Veterinary Supervision and Food Safety Supervision of the State Inspectorate of the Republic of Croatia, Tomislav Kiš, DVM, Head of the Department for Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health of the Directorate General for Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Dubravka Marija Kreković, BEng., Head of the Department for Food Safety at the Croatian Institute of Public Health, professor Mirjana Turkalj, PhD, Head of the Department for of allergology and clinical immunology at the Srebrnjak Children's Hospital, and Nina Puhač Bogadi, PhD, as a representative of the Association of Food Processing Industry of The Croatian Chamber of Economy.

After the opening speech from HAPIH's executive director and welcoming words of high-ranking guests, among whom were Professor Vlado Guberac, rector of Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, professor Brigita Popović PhD, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Agro-Biotechnical Sciences Osijek, Romeo Jukić, representative of the Acting Prefect of Osijek-Baranja County Mate Lukić and head of the Administrative Department for Agriculture and Igor Medić, representative of Osijek city mayor Ivan Radić and Head of the Administrative Department for the Economy of the City of Osijek, the participants of the round table listened to the message of the representative of the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Gokce Akbalik, a food safety expert, who greeted the participants via video link.

In the opening speech, assistant professor Darja Sokolić, PhD, indicated that food safety in the European Union and thus in Croatia has never been at a higher level, although there is always room for improvement. The transparency of the system and intensive consumer education contributed to the fact that consumers’ awareness of potential risks originating from food is increasing.

"According to the latest Eurobarometer research, 7 out of 10 Europeans are interested in the topic of food safety, while Croatia, with 75 percent interested, is even above the European average. Interest is certainly the first prerequisite for developing and raising the level of consumers awareness as active stakeholders in the system", said executive director Sokolić, emphasizing that "today's process of globalization and freedom of movement of people and goods has additionally contributed to the fact that food safety has no borders. The speed and freedom of movement is accompanied by the speed of information flow, so in addition to quick action for maximum protection of the health of people, animals and the environment, transparency and fast and open communication are also necessary - even before the safe identification of the source of risk, in order to prevent the possibility of spreading misinformation, consequently resulting in the spread of panic."

Read the full report (in Croatian)

https://www.hapih.hr/pokazali-smo-spremnost-na-neocekivano-ali-uvijek-moze-bolje/

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World Food Safety Day events this year

Photo © HAPIH