Climate change and food safety

Identifying potential impacts of anticipated changes in climate on food safety and their control at all stages of the food chain is a very important issue. The purpose is to raise awareness of the issue and to facilitate international cooperation in better understanding the changing food safety situation and in developing and implementing strategies to address them. Agents of food-borne disease include: zoonotic diseases, mycotoxin contamination, biotoxins in fishery products and environmental contaminants are important. The paper also highlights the need for adequate attention to food safety in ensuring preparedness for effective management of emergency situations arising from extreme weather events. There is much uncertainty about possible food safety implications of climate change. This paper discusses some expected effects that are supported by data; it also considers other issues that are largely speculative.