Food safety is closely associated with health, economy, trade and tourism, stimulating global sustainable development. In this regard, CSIR initiated the Food and Consumer Safety Solutions (FOCUS) programme, which met the expectations of "Make in India" and "Innovate in India" and has successfully delivered several technological interventions that benefited farmers, industry and consumers. To take forward the leads and knowledge generated in the FOCUS programme, a mission-mode programme aiming to provide futuristic and advanced technological interventions in food safety, is taken by CSIR institutes, with CSIR-IITR as nodal Institute. After a series of brainstorming sessions with regulatory agencies and industries, a CSIR Mission-Mode Programme on Advancing Technological Leads for Assuring Safety of Food (ATLAS) is ongoing.
ATLAS Mission aims to deliver cutting-edge technology advances in food safety through the following five themes:
This comprehensive list features a range of technologies that have been developed by CSIR to address the key challenges faced by the food industry today. The technologies have been classified into five categories, including Commercialized Technologies, Lab Validation Technologies, Technology Demonstration, Technology Development, and Technology Integrated.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards , 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments. FSSAI has been created for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
2. International Food Safety StandardsFood safety is important as it helps to protect consumer from the risk of food borne illnesses. It also helps to prevent consumers from risks of health -related conditions such as allergy and even death. It also protects food processing establishments from product recalls which results in financial losses due to unsafe products. Other issues due to unsafe products which can impact a business include: rejected products, possible lawsuits and business closure by the public health authorities due to reports of unsafe product sold to the general public. The International Food Standard is a common food safety standard with a uniform evaluation system used to qualify and select suppliers. It helps retailers ensure the food safety of their products and monitors the quality level of producers of retailer branded food products. The standard helps organizations to identify and control food safety hazards. Due to the enhanced international trade in food products, international standards are needed to ensure the safety of global food supply chain.
3. European Food Safety AuthorityEFSA aims to provide high-quality scientific advice based on the expertise of its network of scientists and staff and the quality of its science-based information and methodologies, which are grounded in internationally recognised standards.
4. CodexCodex Alimentarius is about safe, good food for everyone - everywhere. International food trade has existed for thousands of years but until not too long ago food was mainly produced, sold and consumed locally. Over the last century the amount of food traded internationally has grown exponentially, and a quantity and variety of food never before possible travels the globe today.
5. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)FSANZ develops standards that regulate the use of ingredients, processing aids, colourings, additives, vitamins and minerals. The Food Standards Code also covers the composition of some foods, e.g. dairy, meat and beverages as well as foods developed by new technologies such as genetically modified foods. We are also responsible for some labelling requirements for packaged and unpackaged food, e.g. specific mandatory warnings or advisory labels. FSANZ also develops Australia-only primary production and processing standards.
6. International Association for Food ProtectionIAFP is a member based association of more than 4000 food safety professionals commited to advancing food safety worldwide by providing food safety professionals worldwide with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply.
7. Food and Drug AdministrationThe Food and Drug Administration is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), cosmetics, animal foods & feed and veterinary products.
8. The Global Food Safety InitiativeThe Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) brings together key actors of the food industry to collaboratively drive continuous improvement in food safety management systems around the world. With a vision of Safe food for consumers everywhere, food industry leaders created GFSI in 2000 to find collaborative solutions to collective concerns, notably to reduce food safety risks, audit duplication and costs while building trust throughout the supply chain. The GFSI community works on a volunteer basis and is composed of the world's leading food safety experts from retail, manufacturing and food service companies, as well as international organisations, governments, academia and service providers to the global food industry. GFSI is powered by The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), a global industry network working to support Better Lives Through Better Business.
9. International Food Safety & Quality NetworkIFSQN was founded in 2003 to provide food safety practitioners with an online platform to share knowledge and to enable collaboration on the implementation, operation and continual improvement of food safety management systems.
10. Centre For Food SafetyCenter for Food Safety (CFS) is a national non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy organization working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. CFS also educates consumers concerning the definition of organic food and products. CFS uses legal actions, groundbreaking scientific and policy reports, books and other educational materials, market pressure and grass roots campaigns through our True Food Network. CFS's successful legal cases collectively represent a landmark body of case law on food and agricultural issues.
11. Food Standards AgencyIt is an independent Government department working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to protect public health and consumers wider interests in food. They make sure that food is safe and what it says it is.
12. World Health OrganisationThe World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group.
13. Consumer Advocacy WebsiteConsumer Notice is a consumer advocacy organization dedicated to providing reliable health and safety information and empowering consumers to assert their legal rights.