Achieving an Integrated Approach to Food Safety and Hygiene—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa
Improving food safety and hygiene is integral to the successful attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Foodborne diseases continue to impose a high burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly children under five years, and meeting stipulated conditions for both...
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doaj-176409a4d2d0427d97ba3bd78eff84052020-11-24T20:51:28ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502018-07-01107239410.3390/su10072394su10072394Achieving an Integrated Approach to Food Safety and Hygiene—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan AfricaTracy D. Morse0Humphreys Masuku1Sarah Rippon2Hudson Kubwalo3Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Level 5 James Weir Building, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UKMinistry of Health, Government of Malawi, Capital Hill, Lilongwe 3, MalawiDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Level 5 James Weir Building, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UKWorld Health Organisation (Malawi), ADL House, Lilongwe 3, MalawiImproving food safety and hygiene is integral to the successful attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Foodborne diseases continue to impose a high burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly children under five years, and meeting stipulated conditions for both domestic and export markets can be challenging. This paper reports a situation analysis exploring the challenges faced in the food safety sector in LMICs, using Malawi as an example. The analysis used a desk and policy review, literature search, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions to provide national data, which was then subject to thematic analysis. The analysis established there is a significant threat to public health and market access due to uncoordinated, outdated or incomplete regulatory framework, poorly defined mandates, limited infrastructure, lack of equipment and skilled personnel, inadequate resources, and limited awareness and ability to comply with standards. Food safety and hygiene improvements must strike a balance between market access gains and protection of public health. To achieve this, the sector requires effective integration at national level in food security, nutrition, health, economic development, agriculture, and poverty reduction. Solutions for each country must be context-specific and take into consideration national realities if they are to be successful.http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2394food safetySustainable Development GoalsregulationMalawipolicyLMIC |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Tracy D. Morse Humphreys Masuku Sarah Rippon Hudson Kubwalo |
spellingShingle |
Tracy D. Morse Humphreys Masuku Sarah Rippon Hudson Kubwalo Achieving an Integrated Approach to Food Safety and Hygiene—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa Sustainability food safety Sustainable Development Goals regulation Malawi policy LMIC |
author_facet |
Tracy D. Morse Humphreys Masuku Sarah Rippon Hudson Kubwalo |
author_sort |
Tracy D. Morse |
title |
Achieving an Integrated Approach to Food Safety and Hygiene—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa |
title_short |
Achieving an Integrated Approach to Food Safety and Hygiene—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa |
title_full |
Achieving an Integrated Approach to Food Safety and Hygiene—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa |
title_fullStr |
Achieving an Integrated Approach to Food Safety and Hygiene—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa |
title_full_unstemmed |
Achieving an Integrated Approach to Food Safety and Hygiene—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa |
title_sort |
achieving an integrated approach to food safety and hygiene—meeting the sustainable development goals in sub-saharan africa |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2018-07-01 |
description |
Improving food safety and hygiene is integral to the successful attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Foodborne diseases continue to impose a high burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly children under five years, and meeting stipulated conditions for both domestic and export markets can be challenging. This paper reports a situation analysis exploring the challenges faced in the food safety sector in LMICs, using Malawi as an example. The analysis used a desk and policy review, literature search, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions to provide national data, which was then subject to thematic analysis. The analysis established there is a significant threat to public health and market access due to uncoordinated, outdated or incomplete regulatory framework, poorly defined mandates, limited infrastructure, lack of equipment and skilled personnel, inadequate resources, and limited awareness and ability to comply with standards. Food safety and hygiene improvements must strike a balance between market access gains and protection of public health. To achieve this, the sector requires effective integration at national level in food security, nutrition, health, economic development, agriculture, and poverty reduction. Solutions for each country must be context-specific and take into consideration national realities if they are to be successful. |
topic |
food safety Sustainable Development Goals regulation Malawi policy LMIC |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2394 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT tracydmorse achievinganintegratedapproachtofoodsafetyandhygienemeetingthesustainabledevelopmentgoalsinsubsaharanafrica AT humphreysmasuku achievinganintegratedapproachtofoodsafetyandhygienemeetingthesustainabledevelopmentgoalsinsubsaharanafrica AT sarahrippon achievinganintegratedapproachtofoodsafetyandhygienemeetingthesustainabledevelopmentgoalsinsubsaharanafrica AT hudsonkubwalo achievinganintegratedapproachtofoodsafetyandhygienemeetingthesustainabledevelopmentgoalsinsubsaharanafrica |
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