According to webinar speakers, a global food safety network has played a vital role in sharing information about food incidents in the past two decades. A webinar was held this week to mark the 20th anniversary of the FAO/WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN). INFOSAN is also part of the WHO Alliance for Food Safety and will help the group to support countries in building their surveillance systems.
The Alliance for Food Safety held its first meeting in Geneva in May. In 2024, the World Food Safety Day campaign on June 7 focused on the theme “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected.” Rachelle El Khoury of INFOSAN said: “This year’s theme underscores the critical importance of being proactive and adaptable in the face of emerging food safety challenges.
INFOSAN helps WHO member states identify and address food safety risks early, ensuring emergency preparedness.” El Khoury said INFOSAN membership has grown from 215 in 2013 to more than 800 in 2024. “This expansion reflects the growing global recognition of the importance of international food safety cooperation.
INFOSAN is present in 189 WHO member states; we still need to cover five more countries,” she said. “INFOSAN’s achievements over the past two decades stand as a testament to the importance of international collaboration and communication to ensuring food safety around the globe. The network continues to lead the way in building a more responsive community to food safety emergenci.