The five grand challenges to future food safety

Over the years we’ve faced a number of startling food safety challenges, from the US ‘Jack in the Box’ case of 1993, to 2008’s melamine baby food incident in China, and of course, the UK’s 2013 horse meat scandal, to name just a few notable instances.

We’ve encountered incidents since these and it would be foolish to think we won’t encounter more as different obstacles cross our path.

Together with food safety expert Professor Chris Elliott, we’ve pulled together a report that offers a detailed overview of the five biggest food safety challenges on the horizon. 

Using a combination of external research, his own work and insight, and data from the results of a series of New Food polls published on our Linked In page, Professor Elliott has drawn conclusions across the five key areas where he believes major concerns lie.

Alongside highlighting his worries for the sector, he also provides a glimmer of hope, offering ways in which we might best protect ourselves from foodborne illness in the future.

The five grand challenges include:

1. Climate change
2. Foodborne viruses of animal origin
3. Antimicrobial resistance
4. The economic crisis
5. Unintended consequences of rushing the sustainability agenda.

The grand challenges are not in any particular order of importance, but it is worth noting that each issue may well impact different parts of society.

If you voted in the polls, we would be interested to find out whether your opinions have changed following this report. And if you didn’t vote, we’d still love to know your thoughts! Please let us know in the comments below.

On behalf of the entire New Food team and Professor Elliott, we hope these findings prove useful.