FOOD-BORNE ILLNESS A MAJOR THREAT

According to World Health Organization (WHO), 600 million people, including 125 million children under the age of five years, are affected by contaminated food.

It results in 420,000 deaths. “We will have to look at food-borne illnesses in the long term. Illnesses can be linked to the constant contact of the food with plastic used for packaging or the increasing use of pesticides,” a food safety expert from Jordan said.

One of the main causes include bacteria or toxins produced by viruses, parasites and chemicals.

The risk increases in low and middle income countries due to the use of unsafe water in food preparation and low level of hygiene.

Food contamination can cause serious diseases, including diarrhoea, typhoid fever, hepatitis and fungal toxins, according to studies.

Oman has approved the setting up of a Centre for Food Safety in the Sultanate, while The Research Council (TRC) is working on a strategic programme in terms of studying food patterns and food databases.

According to Dr Ahmed Ali Alawi, associate professor and head of food sciences and nutrition department, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), as nearly 56 per cent of food consumed in Oman is imported, it is of national importance to ensure food is safe for consumption.

He also pointed at the risks resulting from the use of packaging materials.

“In the United States, one-third of materials used in fast-food packaging is unsafe. Antibiotics are used by livestock breeders who do not have sufficient knowledge about the extent of the damage it can cause, including emergence of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.”

The conference was accompanied by a special exhibition of government bodies concerned with the safety and quality of food and companies and institutions in the private sector working and displaying scientific posters specialised in the field of food safety.