Thumbnail Image

Benefits and Risks of the Use of Chlorine containing Disinfectants in Food Production and Food Processing

Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting

Year of publication 2009

Pages 291 p.

Author Nutrition Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Category Technical study

ISBN ISBN 978 92 5 106476 4

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) expert meeting on the use of chlorine-containing disinfectants1 in food production and food processing was held on 27–30 May 2008 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America. The meeting was supported by NSF International, WHO Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. The meeting was organized to provide scientific advice in response to a request made by the C odex Alimentarius Commission based on proposed terms of reference prepared by the thirty-seventh session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants and the thirty-seventh session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene on the safety and benefits of the use of “active chlorine” in food processing. The primary intended benefits of disinfection processes are the reduction of microbial foodborne disease risk and the reduction of spoilage by control of contamination by pathogenic and no n-pathogenic microorganisms. Control can be through direct treatment of foods and through management of cross-contamination from processing water and food contact surfaces. Disinfection treatment may lead to residues of disinfectants and disinfection by-products, which need to be considered in a risk–benefit assessment. The control of spoilage bacteria by disinfection, which increases the shelf life and stability of foods, was not considered by the expert meeting, as it has no direct impact on h ealth risks.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Flagship
    The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
    Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all
    2021
    Also available in:
    In recent years, several major drivers have put the world off track to ending world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The challenges have grown with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures. This report presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes new estimates of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, which provide an important link between the food security and nutrition indicators and the analysis of their trends. Altogether, the report highlights the need for a deeper reflection on how to better address the global food security and nutrition situation.To understand how hunger and malnutrition have reached these critical levels, this report draws on the analyses of the past four editions, which have produced a vast, evidence-based body of knowledge of the major drivers behind the recent changes in food security and nutrition. These drivers, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, include conflicts, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns – all exacerbated by the underlying causes of poverty and very high and persistent levels of inequality. In addition, millions of people around the world suffer from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of healthy diets. From a synthesized understanding of this knowledge, updates and additional analyses are generated to create a holistic view of the combined effects of these drivers, both on each other and on food systems, and how they negatively affect food security and nutrition around the world.In turn, the evidence informs an in-depth look at how to move from silo solutions to integrated food systems solutions. In this regard, the report proposes transformative pathways that specifically address the challenges posed by the major drivers, also highlighting the types of policy and investment portfolios required to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all. The report observes that, while the pandemic has caused major setbacks, there is much to be learned from the vulnerabilities and inequalities it has laid bare. If taken to heart, these new insights and wisdom can help get the world back on track towards the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical book
    Sustainable healthy diets
    Guiding principles
    2019
    Also available in:
    Considering the detrimental environmental impact of current food systems, and the concerns raised about their sustainability, there is an urgent need to promote diets that are healthy and have low environmental impacts. These diets also need to be socio-culturally acceptable and economically accessible for all. Acknowledging the existence of diverging views on the concepts of sustainable diets and healthy diets, countries have requested guidance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on what constitutes sustainable healthy diets. These guiding principles take a holistic approach to diets; they consider international nutrition recommendations; the environmental cost of food production and consumption; and the adaptability to local social, cultural and economic contexts. This publication aims to support the efforts of countries as they work to transform food systems to deliver on sustainable healthy diets, contributing to the achievement of the SDGs at country level, especially Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Technical report
    Enterobacter sakazakii and other microorganisms in powdered infant formula - Meeting report. Microbiological Risk Assessment Series (MRA) 6 2004
    Also available in:
    Microorganisms, and in particular Enterobacter sakazakii, in powdered infant formula are considered to be an emerging public health issue. This issue was recently brought to the attention of the Codex Alimentarius, which has decided to revise its Recommended International Code of Hygienic Practices for Foods for Infants and Children in order to address concerns raised by pathogens that may be present in infant formula. FAO and WHO convened an expert meeting with the objective of providing scien tific advice to facilitate this revision process. This volume reports on the findings of that meeting. E. sakazakii has caused disease in all age groups. Statistics indicate that infants, in particular pre-term, underweight or immunocompromised infants, are at greatest risk. Powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and may occasionally contain pathogens even when it meets the current Codex standards. This report looks at range of control strategies during both manufacture and subsequen t use of powdered infant formula that may be implemented to minimize the risk. This volume and others in this Microbiological Risk Assessment Series contain information that is useful to both risk assessors and risk managers, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, governments and food regulatory agencies, industries, care givers to infants and other people or institutions with an interest in the area of microorganisms in powdered infant formula, their impact on public health and food trade, and p otential control strategies.
Show more