Food
safety is now a global problem
Source of Article: http://www.financialpost.com/executive/story.html?id=1319805 Guarding
against tainted food has grown more complex. Won't Shell Out for Food Safety? Expect Problems Peanuts and peanut products tainted with salmonella in
the This situation calls for a thorough investigation, and
one is no doubt forthcoming. In the meantime, who is to blame? It would be
easy to single out Peanut Corp., but the company is just one piece of a
bigger picture. From a systemic perspective, we can identify two underlying,
and related, issues: globalization and modernity. To begin with, the number
of food recalls is not increasing as much as the scope and magnitude of
individual cases. Globalization has had a significant impact on how we eat
and has kept food prices at reasonable levels. But an unfortunate side affect
is that our capacity to manage risks has been severely compromised.
Distribution systems are much more dynamic now and allow food to be produced
one day and consumed the next while travelling thousands of kilometres in between. It is almost impossible to
adequately contain risks, and outbreaks can spread globally in days, even
hours. Secondly, in our fast-paced modern social arrangements,
fewer consumers prepare food for themselves, and these few often with less
available time. In filling this demand for convenience, processed foods have
become a big part of our diets. These pressing conditions are intensified by
increased participation of women in the labour
force, high levels of youth out-migration, and an aging population. Such
changes have had a considerable impact on food safety standards, practices,
and marketing strategies. In order to compete, the food industry is compelled
to offer convenient and readily-available food products to markets at the
lowest price possible. The "cheap calorie" factor is also putting a
lot of pressure on food industry stakeholders. The current economic downturn
is adding fuel to the proverbial fire. Today, Canadian and American consumers
spend only about 10-12% of their disposable income on food purchased from a
store. That number was at around 25% less than a generation ago. The food
industry is now highly fragmented, which tends to encourage fierce
competition, especially in terms of price. The food industry has to negotiate
within a highly competitive environment in order to succeed. Price is often
the first marketing variable that is prioritized. Consequently, we are all to some extent responsible for what happened since the
food industry is providing us with what we are asking for. Epidemics are a
disastrous but unavoidable consequence that we can only hope to limit. Even so, consumers have the right to ask for more
accountability. Local diffusion networks and distribution channels play a
vital role wherever sustainability involves policies that require better
safety of our food products. Food manufacturers actually go beyond government
standards, such as HACCP and ISO certifications, to ensure their food
products exceed compliance with health and safety requirements. The problem
is more multifaceted than it appears. Therefore, solutions require
cooperative action across food industries and across national borders, in
addition to punitive measures for individual transgressors. No food companies are deliberately trying to harm
consumers, but irresponsible corporate behaviour
should be punished. Nonetheless, it is hard to believe that Peanut Corp. of Financial Post - Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is
a food distribution and safety specialist and associate dean at the Levene Graduate School of Business, Faculty of Business
Administration, |
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