Marler Clark, a Seattle-based law firm specializing in food-safety lawsuits, lists these 10 issues as among the main food safety issues of 2009.
Globalization: More international recalls and outbreaks due to expanding globalization of food supply and the challenges of oversight/infrastructure in developing countries. This includes the possibility of bioterrorism and/or intentional adulterations with a profit motive, like melamine.
Local food: Outbreaks linked to local food and/or farmer’s markets, which is uninspected.
Non-O157 Shiga Toxic producing E. Coli (STEC) illnesses and outbreaks (both beef and produce).
Animal-to-human contamination.
Having to do more with less: Public funding for food safety is down, but the workload is growing.
21st Century communication: Food safety agencies need to improve communication with consumers.
Balancing food protection and environmental health.
Rise in zoonotic diseases – viruses jumping from animals to humans (avian influenza is an example).
Consumers and food safety – includes education to traceability.
Pet food ills – supervision of the pet food industry needs improvement.
See the release at: www.marlerclark.com/press_releases/view/top-ten-food-safety-challenges-of-2009
