FAO NEWS RELEASE - www.fao.org

Media Advisory WHO/FAO  

28 June 2012

 

 

RAFT OF NEW FOOD SAFETY MEASURES TO PROTECT CONSUMERS

ON THE AGENDA: CONTAMINATION, HYGIENE, LABELLING, GROWTH PROMOTERS

wHAT:  Journalists are invited to the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission - the world’s food standards body - for its annual meeting. The commission is expected to approve important recommendations that will protect the health of consumers across the world and ensure fair practices in the food trade.   

 

WHEN: 2-7 July 2012

 

AGENDA ITEMS OF MEDIA INTEREST:

 

Contamination (2-3 July)

Melamine in liquid infant formula - high levels of melamine contamination have been linked to illness and deaths of infants in recent years. The commission will consider adopting maximum melamine levels in liquid infant formula.

Dried figs - The commission will agree on the maximum acceptable levels of cancer-causing aflatoxins that are found in dried figs.

 

Food Hygiene (2-3 July)

Melons - the popularity of pre-cut melon slices as a food snack has been linked to an increase in life-threatening salmonella and listeria outbreaks, caused by poor temperature control and poor hygiene. New hygiene measures affecting producers, retailers, restaurants and consumers are expected to be approved.

Viruses - Viruses are generally more resistant than bacteria to common hygienic controls. New food industry and consumer guidelines, in particular for oysters, mussels and fresh produce, aim to minimize risks from hepatitis A virus and norovirus.

 

Mandatory food labeling and nutrition claims (2-3 July)

Linked to WHO’s work on clearer consumer information on food labels to promote healthy choices, the commission will consider adopting new nutrient reference values for saturated fatty acids and sodium, as well as ruling on conditions related to sugar-free claims. The commission is also expected to call for the amount of energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugars to be mandatory on all food labels.

 

Growth promoters in meat production (4-5 July)

There are different opinions among countries on whether certain veterinary drugs should be used to promote the growth of livestock. FAO/WHO scientific experts have carried out risk assessments on safe and acceptable daily intake and recommend maximum residue limits of these growth promoters, and the commission will seek to reach agreement on the issue.

 

 

WHERE: FAO Headquarters, Viale Delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome

 

MORE INFORMATION:

The FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission meeting is open to journalists and attended by 600 delegates representing more than 130 governments, UN organizations, intergovernmental organizations and NGOs.

 

WHO and FAO communications officers (see below) will be facilitating media interview requests  throughout the week. Information on key decisions will be released through WHO’s and FAO’s media distribution channels and website.

 

Provisional meeting agenda: ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/meetings/CAC/CAC35/cac35_01e.pdf

Codex Alimentarius website: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/

FAO programme on food safety and quality: http://www.fao.org/food/food-safety-quality/home-page/en/

WHO programme on food safety: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/en

 

Twitter hashtag: #codex2012 

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:  

FAO: Erwin Northoff, Media Relations Officer 

Mobile: +39 06 570 53105, E-mail: [log in to unmask]

 

WHO: Glenn Thomas, Communications Officer

Mobile: +41 79 509 0677, E-mail: [log in to unmask] 

 

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