How climate change threatens food safety

Climate change affects food production and availability, access, quality, utilization, and stability of food systems. In short, climate change impacts all aspects of the food system, including food safety.

From the perspective of the WHO, the repercussion is unequivocal, “Climate change is likely to have considerable impacts on food safety, both direct and indirect, placing public health at risk.”

Global food safety is a shared responsibility among everyone involved in the food supply chain.

Food manufacturers can improve their food safety outcomes in the face of climate change by utilizing the latest technology. Modern solutions help assure food meets the highest safety and quality standards in the face of emerging climate-driven challenges.

The effect on food safety

Changes in climate could affect the safety and quality of the global food supply in a number of ways that are expected to increase the risk of foodborne illnesses.

• Rising global temperatures and extreme weather can increase the exposure of food to certain microbial pathogens, toxins, and heavy metals.
• Increased carbon dioxide concentrations can alter the frequency and distribution of pests, parasites, and microbes. This leads to elevated exposure of pesticides and veterinary drugs.
• Extreme weather conditions can disrupt food distribution by damaging infrastructure or slowing food shipments. Such disruption can increase the risk of food damage, spoilage, or contamination.

PLM tools mitigate food safety risks

The risks to food safety caused by climate change mean that manufacturers need to ensure the effectiveness of their processes to prevent potential ingredient and contamination problems.

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions offer the range of tools to assist manufacturers in managing food safety issues, including reformulation and compliance. End-to-end technology like Trace One Devex PLM can identify risks early on through its Innovation Process Management Suite.

Trace One Devex PLM manages all product specifications in a single integrated system and ensures that all required specifications are processed and up to date with current compliance requirements. Trace One Devex PLM gives visibility into all stages, from idea to label, empowering companies to make the right decisions regarding food safety.

Trace One Devex PLM helps manage climate change food risks

Food hazards and their ability to cause foodborne diseases can be greatly affected by climate change. New toxins and contaminants can be introduced into the food supply. Food damage or spoilage during extreme weather events pose risks to consumers and companies.

Tools such as Trace One Devex PLM help manufacturers achieve the highest level of food safety by providing deep visibility into the food production process. It gathers and centralizes data to harmonize information across the enterprise, preventing problems from arising throughout the production process.