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Food safety aspects of cell-based food












FAO & WHO. 2023. Food safety aspects of cell-based food. Rome.




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    In April 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a milestone publication “Food safety aspects of cell-based food”. Here are nine things for those working in government in the area of food safety to know about cell-based foods.
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    As the global demand for proteins and specific nutrients grows, many people are looking into opportunities to expand the scope of diverse and sustainable sources of such nutrients. Food safety is one of the prominent key issues to ascertain before such products go into the market, and various competent authorities are working to identify and address potential food safety issues and their implications. After the first stakeholder meeting on cell-based food organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Government of Israel, many experts suggested that FAO maintain such dialogues to regularly update the knowledge of this fast-improving technology. This led to the stakeholder meeting organized by FAO jointly with the Government of China in November 2023, which considered precision fermentation besides cell-based food. The present report summarized the results of the meeting attended by a total of 55 participants in Shanghai, China on 6 November 2023. The meeting provided a snapshot of the state of development of these particular technologies and the industry in 2023. As an increasing number of countries are reviewing the regulatory applications, valid examples of how to assess product safety have become available. All participants recognized that open discussions between stakeholders and regulators are key when it comes to clarifying important aspects of food safety, and that supporting the relevant scientific innovations is vital for achieving the overall food security goals and sustainable food production for the future.
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    Considering the unique outlook for cell-based food production, many countries may put in place various regulatory requirements for cell-based food products to be sold in the markets. Some may require a pre-market authorization process, which often entails assessment of their safety for human consumption and compliance with national regulations. As of 2022, while there is only a limited number of products authorized in one country only, it is just a matter of time before cell-based food starts being authorized elsewhere and/or transported and traded across borders. It is therefore important to first understand the existing frameworks under which cell-based food products may be regulated. It is also important to identify some specific regulations for food safety purposes, so that some good practices can be recognized and documented. A literature review was conducted to provide the time-bound state of the art on the regulatory frameworks that apply to or would apply to cell-based food products in different countries and jurisdictions. The results of the review serve as a basis for the competent food safety authorities to consider the key elements within their regulatory frameworks for effective national food control systems.

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