The various aspects of food safety law.

The tag line of the United Nations in matters of food safety goes like this: a food is only safe "If it doesn't cause harm to the consumer when prepared and/or eaten according to its intended use". Anything which causes adverse effect oh human health like contaminants, adulterants, naturally occurring toxins, and any other substances similar to poison should not be there in any kind of edibles. We have learnt that safe food is not just a fundamental necessity for human endurance but is also intrinsically and essentially linked with economic, social, and ethical facets of our health and life. Through centuries of trail and error, ignorance, research, and experiments, the world has come to acknowledge the fact that without food safety laws, a healthy world is impossible. Ensuring adequate food safety standards has evolved into a much more complicated problem in recent times because of a series of interconnected factors to be considered. Scientific and technological advancements such as the development of high accuracy analytical equipments and improved agricultural and preservation techniques have made it possible to safeguard our crops from natural calamities and deadly insects, but at the same time it has also introduced such detrimental changes in the entire food supply chains which were never envisaged in the entire history because of the use of modern scientific practices such as increased usage of chemicals and other additives. This has led to a situation which demands that we adopt a multidimensional approach at all levels of food safety laws i.e. from farm to fork. The basics that can be followed to ensure that the produces that we eat is non hazardous are as listed below:rnIdentification of critical control points throughout the system and assessment of raw materials and finished products. More awareness of the part of provinvial government bodies to uplift their food safety programs.rnAllocation of appropriate funds for the provincial governments so that they can follow the set international rules and regulations pertaining to food safety. rnThorough inspections before approving food imports and Introduction of stringent monitoring systems of sampling.rnLocalization of the laws and standards adopted from international bodies in accordance with our needs and resources.rnNew techniques and establishment of up-to-date laboratories and research centers with latest analytical facilities and equipments. Quality management systems such as ISO: 9001-2000, HACCP and ISO: 22000 enforced and basic hygiene practices carried out at every level as safety measures. Food Safety laws cover around 104 different food items ranging from cereals, fruits and vegetables, to edible oils and fats, dairy products, etc. working with an aim of preventing food tarnishing and assuring adequate level of purity. The usage of antioxidants,preservatives, flavorants, colorants, and other food additives should be set as per regulations addressing the food safety laws, and forbiding the trading, production and sales of all such perilous food items which infringe the stipulated rules and are likely to prove harmful for the health. The government to achieve the measures of food safety in its truest sense should be responsibe for developing a personalized, comprehensive and integrated protection framework which does not necessarily deals with safety, but also with health preservation and support.