Food quality & safety
Production systems focus on consumer needs and food quality. Food quality can be defined by food safety, nutritional value, and sensory and technological quality. Improvement of food quality is an important aspect of animal breeding and has become more important over time; nutritional value, human health features, sensory qualities visual appeal, and processing characteristics can become targets for animal breeders nowadays.
Food safety is an important factor in animal breeding; its importance and the public concern have been rising over the years. Animal breeding and reproduction have limited direct possibilities in influencing food safety and public health. Indirect there are more possibilities in improving food safety; e.g. by decreasing the incidence of food-borne infections. Breeders organisations try to improve the natural genetic resistance of an animal; this decreases the need for medication and the occurrence of zoo noses, and improves food safety and human health improve.
Progress can be made in the animal breeding and reproduction sector through the selection of robust animals that adapt easily to the production environment. These animals will likely be less vulnerable for diseases, and thus the need for medicines decreases. This will decrease the risk of residues in animal-derived food. Besides, less disease vulnerable animals means a decrease in zoo-noses as well. Animals resistant to spreading zoonotic diseases, or a generally improved immune system would improve food safety and be beneficial for animal and human health.
With the internationalisation of trade and the increasing size of farms disease transmitting through animal, semen, egg, and embryo transport has increased. Artificial insemination and embryo transfer have contributed to a decrease in disease transmitting, but further improvements can be made.
The risk of disease transmission and ensuring safe transport of genetic material can be further reduced by improving health guarantees of the materials. A contributor to this issue can be Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) production of breeding animals. SPF animals are guaranteed free of particular pathogens or a certain disease. Besides, this contributes to improved animal and human welfare.
Optimising the use of medicines and vaccines according to an animal’s genetic make-up represents a significant development opportunity.
Food safety is an important factor in animal breeding; its importance and the public concern have been rising over the years. Animal breeding and reproduction have limited direct possibilities in influencing food safety and public health. Indirect there are more possibilities in improving food safety; e.g. by decreasing the incidence of food-borne infections. Breeders organisations try to improve the natural genetic resistance of an animal; this decreases the need for medication and the occurrence of zoo noses, and improves food safety and human health improve.
Progress can be made in the animal breeding and reproduction sector through the selection of robust animals that adapt easily to the production environment. These animals will likely be less vulnerable for diseases, and thus the need for medicines decreases. This will decrease the risk of residues in animal-derived food. Besides, less disease vulnerable animals means a decrease in zoo-noses as well. Animals resistant to spreading zoonotic diseases, or a generally improved immune system would improve food safety and be beneficial for animal and human health.
With the internationalisation of trade and the increasing size of farms disease transmitting through animal, semen, egg, and embryo transport has increased. Artificial insemination and embryo transfer have contributed to a decrease in disease transmitting, but further improvements can be made.
The risk of disease transmission and ensuring safe transport of genetic material can be further reduced by improving health guarantees of the materials. A contributor to this issue can be Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) production of breeding animals. SPF animals are guaranteed free of particular pathogens or a certain disease. Besides, this contributes to improved animal and human welfare.
Optimising the use of medicines and vaccines according to an animal’s genetic make-up represents a significant development opportunity.
Europe's role in food safety
The European Union (EU) has an integrated approach to assure a high level of food safety. This assurance is met through ‘farm-to-table’ measures, monitoring and ensuring effective functioning of the internal market. Another important aspect is the development of legislative and other actions; assurance of effective control systems and evaluation compliance with EU standards, manage international relations and manage relations with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The European Food Safety Authority is an independent agency and has several duties, such as:
The European Union (EU) has an integrated approach to assure a high level of food safety. This assurance is met through ‘farm-to-table’ measures, monitoring and ensuring effective functioning of the internal market. Another important aspect is the development of legislative and other actions; assurance of effective control systems and evaluation compliance with EU standards, manage international relations and manage relations with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The European Food Safety Authority is an independent agency and has several duties, such as:
- Risk assessor regarding food and feed safety in the EU
- Cooperate with national authorities
- Open consultation with stakeholders
- Scientific advice and communication on existing and emerging risks
- Provide scientific opinions and advice as a basis for policies legislation
- Support the European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States in taking effective and timely risk management decisions.