Globalization of food supply chains, combined with industrialization and urbanization, has changed the dietary habits of people @FAO Indonesia

Globalization of food supply chains, combined with industrialization and urbanization, has changed the dietary habits of people around the world. These major trends have also brought with them huge food control and food safety issues, posing an important challenge to national authorities.

As a result of food contamination, foodborne illnesses are among the leading causes of absenteeism, including at the work place, which has resulted in loss of income and increased health care cost, as well as legal costs, due to closure of businesses.  Serious consequences of repeated episodes of foodborne illnesses include severe malnutrition and loss of life among infants and young children.

Based on surveillance and product sampling by the National Agency for Drug and Food Control [BPOM], between 2011 and 2015, the number of food products that did not meet acceptable standards, increased by about 35 percent. Among others, these food items contained hazardous substances misused as food additives, or manifested some form of microbial contamination. Over the period of 2013 until 2015, reported incidences of serious food poisoning increased from 48 to 61 outbreaks in the 34 provinces of Indonesia. 

In 2015, the Fish Quarantine Agency reported seven cases of rejected fish exports to Italy, France, England, Russia, Belgium, South Korea, and Canada, due to excessive mercury and microbial content.  

“FAO is committed to raising food safety in support of Indonesia’s public health priorities, and as a vehicle to improve food quality, which is essential to achieving food and nutrition security. An effective national food control system is needed to protect consumer health, and to ensure good trade practices. Safe food benefits everyone,” said Mark Smulders, FAO representative in Indonesia at the opening of a National Workshop on Food control Systems Assessment in Jakarta today.

BPOM and the Ministry of Health, supported by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), will conduct a food control system assessment workshop from 3-6 April 2017, to enable competent authorities on food safety to self-assess their food control system. FAO and WHO have developed a new and comprehensive assessment tool for food control systems, along with guidance materials on its application, to be used by member countries.

In addition to BPOM and the Ministry of Health, participants of the assessment workshop include Bappenas, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, the Ministries of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Environment and Forestry, Trade, and Industry, as well as the National Standardization Agency (BSN), Provincial and District Government offices, associations, industry experts and research centers.

BPOM’s efforts to improve the food control system in Indonesia started in early 2014. With support from FAO, BPOM has facilitated a series of workshops, a study, and various stakeholder coordination workshops to strengthen the Food Standards and Food Safety Control System.

Food Safety for Food and Nutrition Security 

Access to safe food is a basic human necessity, and is essential for food and nutrition security to be achieved. Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. 

Unfortunately, poor sanitation and hygiene practices (including unsafe food) are a major cause of malnutrition in Indonesia. Consumption of unsafe food leads to foodborne illnesses, which lead to malnutrition, due to nutrient loss and poor absorption capacity. Especially infants and young children are vulnerable to foodborne diseases.

A strong national food control system will play a critical role in ensuring safe food consumption, protecting consumers’ health, and facilitating good trade practices towards achieving successful human and economic development in Indonesia, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).