Viewpoint: Future of food safety and nutrition - Seeking win-wins, coping with trade-offs

• Published in: Food policy 2018-01, Vol.74, p.143-146
• Main Authors: Mylona, Kalliopi, Maragkoudakis, Petros, Miko, Ladislav, Bock, Anne-Katrin, Wollgast, Jan, Caldeira, Sandra, Ulberth, Franz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Challenges; Food safety; Foresight; Nutrition; Preparedness; Trade-offs
• ISSN: 0306-9192; 1873-5657
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2017.12.002

The possible implications of global trends such as climate change and resource scarcity on food security are high on the political agendas. While the food sufficiency aspect of food security takes centre-stage, the future of food safety and nutritional quality of diets often seems to be taken for granted. This paper builds on the results of a foresight study on EU food safety and nutrition towards 2050 to discuss potential future points of tension for food policy. Increasing food production while using fewer resources and reducing food waste while ensuring food safety are just two examples. Innovation at different levels in the food system will be needed to address future challenges. Fast technology uptake and the launch of new food-related products can put pressure on the ability to deliver timely risk assessments, the scope of which might also need to cover other legitimate factors. Future food policies need to be more sensitive to impacts on food safety and nutrition and health aspects. A holistic food systems approach must be taken to identify and discuss in advance possible tensions and trade-offs and to address them upfront in a systematic and transparent manner.