According to a discussion paper published by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), food safety is a key component to achieve both food and nutrition security.
Source: ADB
Currently, many middle and high income consumers are interested in new values and aspirations that influence their purchasing behavior. The issues that they are more concerned about include food safety, health and wellness, sustainability, animal welfare, and equity matters. Some items, for example, are made without specific components such as trans fat and are rebranded to emphasize product safety or to show support for local producers.
There are 8-9 million cases of foodborne illnesses in the Philippines resulting in 3,000-4,000 deaths and with productivity loss equivalent to USD 1.5 billion. This was brought on by the advent of unregistered businesses selling “hot meat” or meat of tainted quality, illicit slaughterhouses, and disturbances in the meat supply chain. In addition to meat, fish and seafood meals can occasionally make people sick due to the presence of pollutants or a lack of access to clean ice, cold storage facilities, or even drinkable water. The fundamental requirements for food safety are clean water, sanitation, and refrigeration. To adhere to food safety laws and prevent cross-contamination in food supply chains, infrastructure investments are required to increase access to potable water and sanitation.
Chapter 7 also known as Product Standardization and Consumer Safety of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 explains why a Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards is necessary. Certain food safety and sanitary requirements, such as Good Agricultural Practices and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point must be followed in order to meet with the high standards of the local market.
Reference:
Philippine Institute for Development Studies. (2022, June). Is Food Supply Accessible, Affordable, and Stable? The State of Food Security in the Philippines. Retrieved July 12, 2023, from https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/document/pidsdps2221.pdf
