African food standards reconsidered

New measures to ensure safer infant powdered formula and hygienic egg production were discussed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in July. During the six day meeting in Rome, representatives from more than 100 countries attended.

The Codex Commission, a body jointly set up by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is considering the adoption of several food safety and quality standards that countries depend on to safeguard the health of consumers, improve food quality and ensure fair practices in food trade.

Codex will reconsider the 1981 standard on infant formula, which was based on scientific knowledge from the 1970s. The revised standard for infant formulae and those for special medical purposes are based on the latest scientific understanding of the composition of breast milk.

Dr Jorgen Schlundt, director of the WHO department of food safety, zoonoses and food-borne diseases, said: ‘Powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and can be contaminated with life-threatening bacteria. It is extremely important that these formulae are safe and properly labelled. The proposed standard will help save many infant lives in countries around the world.’

The FAO/WHO Codex Trust Fund supported some 34 developing countries to attend the Codex Commission. ‘FAO and WHO support the efforts of developing countries to strengthen their national food safety systems to protect local consumers and to take advantage of international food trade opportunities. They also enable developing countries to participate more effectively in Codex work,’ said Ezzeddine Boutrif, chief of the FAO food quality and standards service.

FAO and WHO launched a framework for the provision of scientific advice and will also present the global initiative for food related scientific advice during the meeting.