Food Safety: Role of Universities and Educational Institutions MENA Present and Future programs

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Food Safety Role of Universities and Educational
Institutions (MENA) Present and Future programs
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCES
American University of Beirut
Dr. Zeina Kassaify Department of Nutrition and
Food Sciences
4th Dubai International Food Safety Conference
Dubai, UAE February 24- 26, 2009
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Outline

• MENA Region Facts- Educational Institutions and
  Food Safety
• Universities Food Safety- Research, Teaching
  and Outreach
• Current Research, Teaching and Outreach Role of
  MENA Region Universities
• Future Recommendations and Conclusions

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MENA Region Facts Educational Institutions and
Food Safety
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MENA Region Facts Educational Institutions and
Food Safety
Higher Education Institutions (World Bank
definition)
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MENA Region Facts Educational Institutions and
Food Safety

• World Banks 2007 Report (MENA Economic
  Developments and Prospects)
• Important recognition of higher education
• 1990 - 2000, enrollment rates at higher levels
  of education increased by two-third
• World Banks 2008 Report ( The Road Not
  Traveled Education Reform in the Middle East and
  North Africa)
• MENA countries invest a higher proportion of
  their GDP on education than other regions in the
  world!!!

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MENA Region Facts Educational Institutions and
Food Safety

• Challenges are in developing high-quality
  education systems, promoting inquiry-based
  learningproblem solving, life-long learning and
  training that respond to the needs of the labor
  market
• No reported data on the number of universities
  with specialized Departments that offer higher
  degrees in Food Science/Safety etc.

• Many offer such degrees or education/training
  under Agriculture or Public Health or at the
  Masters level only
• However, at least 2 universities in each MENA
  state contribute to Food safety by teaching,
  research or outreach initiatives

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MENA Region Facts Educational Institutions and
Food Safety

• Many face difficulties in meeting international
  safety and quality standards due to lack in
  scientific research, testing and conformity
  (Impact of food safety standard on food and
  agricultural trade in the Near East FAO/WHO,
  2005)
• Some have imposed questionable restrictions on
  imported products because of lack of scientific
  justification
• For example
• A max moisture content of 5 for frozen poultry-
  considered too low by some WTO members
• Ban beef imports with fat content gt than 7
• Zero tolerance to certain imported foods, which
  need now to be replaced by sanitary measures
  based on risk assessment.

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and Quality
The responsibility for food safety is multisided
-shared among the government, industry, academia
and consumers.
Effective delivery of Food safety
programs/system require
Consultation
Communication
Policy Development
Implementation of risk alleviation measures
Consumer Confidence
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Role of Universities in Food Safety and Quality
Experts advisory committee
Health professionals
Advise Comment Educate Investigate review or make
recommendations for action
Scientific societies
Academia
Industry Associations
Consumer associations
Government agencies
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Role of Universities in Food Safety and Quality
Advise, Comment, Educate, Investigate review or
make recommendations
Experts advisory committee
create food safety laws and regulations, inspect,
monitor, develop policies, enforce...
GOVERNMENT
Consumers
Industries
Make choices, participate in the decision-making
process
produce safe food, implement
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Role of Universities in Food Safety and Quality
Academic Investigators
Communicate
Design
Execute
Consumers, media, and legislators
Demonstrate safety
Industry
Bring to market
Comply to regulations
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Role of Universities in Food Safety and Quality
Ultimate Role of Universities
Contribute to knowledge through research and
publications
Build capacity through educating students and
continuing education programs for the area of
food safety
Enrich teaching and research and contribute to
the creation of new knowledge by civic and
community service activities
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Role of Universities in Food Safety and Quality
Examples of Missions/visions of some Food
Science/ Safety Programs at Universities in MENA
Countries Faculty of Agricultural and Food
Sciences, American University of Beirut . to
promote, through higher agricultural education,
teaching, research, and extension in .Foods and
Nutrition, as a basis for sustainable
improvement in the lives of people throughout
Lebanon, the Middle East region, and the world.
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Department of Food Science, Ain Shams University,
Cairo .to prepare professionals in the area
of Food Science and Technology . to enhance
products quality of the food industry
Food Science Program, United Arab Emirates
University .to prepare the future leaders of
the food industry and allied government and
research institutions in the U.A.E. to assure
food security, quality and safety
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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Educational Programs (Higher
level education)

• Graduate Future Food Safety Professionals who
• Trained in related disciplines and capable to
  contribute to effective food safety programs
  (agronomic, animal and veterinary medical
  sciences, environmental and public health
  sciences. surveillance, consumer behavior, farm
  to fork supply chain, new traceability
  technologies, etc.)
• Have methodological background to apply in
  current and future food safety research
  (molecular biology, immunology, epidemiology, and
  mathematical modeling)
• Trained on food safety policy and international
  trade
• Trained in adult education methods and program
  efficacy evaluation. (Jaykus and Ward 1999)
• Distance Education for a broader and more diverse
  student populations

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Research Initiatives

• The Food Safety Golden Age (Food Bioterrorism and
  Global Food Security/Supply, etc.)
• Research initiatives are divided into
• 1- Basic Research
• Improve aspects of the food chain from farm to
  fork.
• Improve methods to detect pathogens during
  production
• Better understanding of the transmission of
  pathogens
• Improved methods to control food borne illness
  and pathogen colonization in the food animal
• 2- Applied Research
• Environmental impacts and social Environment
  management
• Develop preventive systems
• Traditional production and products

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Research Initiatives
Research requires

• In October 2008, USDA Awards 13 Million for
  Food Safety Research
• "Sound advice about food safety is based on good
  research to pinpoint potential pathways of
  contamination as well as effective solutions and
  safeguards." (USDA Secretary, Ed Schafer)

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Research Initiatives (MENA
Countries)

• Funding resources are limited for this sector and
  diversified
• Oriented mainly towards development projects
  rather than basic or applied research
• A very compartmentalized region and most of the
  research carried is disconnected from reality
• We have individualistic tendencies (as described
  by Mr. Ziad Moussa, ESDUs communications
  officer)
• Participatory multi-action research and
  collaboration is the optimal plan

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Research Initiatives (MENA
Countries)

• For example
• Some Food Safety Research initiatives In
  collaboration with Universities in MENA Countries
• Prevention, control and resistance of Salmonella
  spp in traditional foods antibiotic residues in
  dairy products Aflatoxin AFM1 in milk and
  cheeses development of micro criteria for
  traditional foods etc..(AUB, Lebanon)
• Pesticide residues Occurrence and legislation of
  mycotoxins in food and feed (Morocco)

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Research Initiatives (MENA
Countries)

• Avian Inlfuenza (Lebanon, Iran, Egypt),
• Food Safety Policy Issues, Safety of Traditional
  foods (UAE)
• Food poisoning and gastroenteritis Surveillance
  of antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella
  enterica serotype Typhi in seven Asian countries

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Outreach Programs
Activities to provide current and relevant food
safety information to all points of the food
chain from farm to fork

• Transferring of technology attained by research
  or knowledge
• Training on Food safety and quality
• Educating Consumers
• Engaging in Policy development

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Outreach Programs

• The UMass Food Safety Education program
• training and resources on safe food handling to
  food producers and processors, food workers,
  regulatory officials, educators and volunteers
  serving high risk groups
• Iowa State University Extension
• .. educational materials to the public to
  minimize their risk of foodborne illness and
  access research-based, unbiased information on
  food safety and quality.

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Outreach Programs

• Extension Food Safety Education Michigan State
  University
• .materials for educating both consumers and the
  media regarding pertinent food safety-related
  issues organizes food safety-related training
  sessions for a variety of audiences investigates
  the sociological and communications aspects of
  food safety issues.
• Food Safety outreach programs at Penn State
• partnerships to develop pro-active food safety
  programs and standards

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Outreach Programs in MENA
Countries

• Confined to occasional individualistic seminars,
  workshops, short courses, small scale
  consultations and services to the industry and
  public awareness campaigns during/after a crisis.
• Lack of developed extension programs or
  specialized centers of excellence

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Outreach Programs in MENA
Countries
Examples of Outreach activities by some or in
collaboration of MENA region Universities

• American University of Beirut Faculty of
  Agricultural and Food Sciences, Lebanon
• partnered with Lebanese government , UNIDO,
  other non-government organization to establish a
  draft for a comprehensive food safety law
• assist governmental agencies to develop
  confine to international standards (member of
  committee to develop national Codex Alimentarius
  Standards),

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Outreach Programs in MENA
Countries

• Workshops to train Quality Control managers, Food
  service personnel, health ministry inspectors
• Food safety symposia and surveillance studies,
  outbreak investigations, risk assessment,
  services and guidance to food industries

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Outreach Programs in MENA
Countries

• Zayed University, College of Family Sciences,
  UAE
• partnered with Dubai Municipality to establish
  the first UAE International Food Safety and
  Sanitation Professional Development Program.
• train Emirati employees in food safety and
  sanitation, technical writing, and research and
  presentation skills
• United Arab Emirates University Department of
  Food Science, UAE
• offer short courses for Food Inspectors
• services to the food industry

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Food Safety Outreach Programs in MENA
Countries

• Sultan Qaboos University, Food Science and
  Nutrition Department, Sultanate of Oman
• Assist to develop standards for raw milk, dates
  and fermented products

• Ain Shams University, Department of Food Science,
  Egypt
• a specialized unit for training of food employees
  of food sectors on quality in food production and
  food safety

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Future Roles and Recommendations for Food
Safety Programs in MENA Countries

• Assist in preparing the MENA Countries for the
  upcoming challenges
• Testing and certification of irradiated foods,
  food derived from GMOs (imports and exports)
• Traceability
• Organic food
• Provisions of scientific risk assessment

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Future Roles and Recommendations for Food
Safety Programs in MENA Countries

• Get involved in
• Raising awareness among policy and
  decision-makers about the importance of food
  safety and quality for consumer protection, food
  trade and economic development.
• Carry out seminars, workshops and communication
  campaigns (senior government officials, food
  industry, the media and consumer associations)

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Future Roles and Recommendations for Food
Safety Programs in MENA Countries

• Develop more effective education strategies that
  are based on global and regional experiences in
  the food sector.
• Partner with industry to fund applied and basic
  research and outreach programs to reduce
  foodborne disease
• Provide frequent training on food safety systems
  including Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs),
  Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP),
  and International Standards Organization (ISO
  22000).
• Encourage collaborations and participation among
  commodity organizations, processors, industry
  consultants and food safety assurance
  coordinators.

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Future Roles and Recommendations for Food
Safety Programs in MENA Countries

• Involve the WHO collaborating centers (the
  Nutrition and Food Science Department at AUB )
  and the WHO Regional offices with the Department
  of Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases
  (FOS) to activate and support regional food
  safety research in order to ensure a safer global
  food supply.
• More partnerships should be formed among
  government/academia/industry at the state and
  regional level
• More research and education is needed into the
  ecology of foodborne pathogens

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Role of Universities in Food Safety and
Quality Future Roles and Recommendations for Food
Safety Programs in MENA Countries

• The ultimate benefit to food safety education
  will be with an integrated approach (research,
  teaching and outreach)
• It graduates students who will be more diverse,
  better qualified, and able to extend and model
  this collaborative teaching and research theme
  throughout their careers (Jaykus and Ward 1999)
• The role of academic institutions is to provide a
  qualified, creative labor force that will make
  important contributions to food safety in the
  years to come

"Most often, the prevention of food-borne
illnesses comes through education and safe
handling practices in the preparation of food,"
(Secretary Ed Schafer, USDA)
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THANK YOU ?