Dr. Walid Alali, Associate Professor in East Tennessee State University College of Public Health’s Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, is the senior and corresponding author of an article in Animals. The article is titled, “Pre-Harvest Food Safety Challenges in Food-Animal Production in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.”
Lead author is Eyasu Seyoum of Ohio State Global One Health. Additional authors include members of Unite Arab Emirates University, Alexandria University in Egypt, Federal University of Paraiba in Brazil, Northwest A&F University in China, and The Ohio State University.
Food safety continues to be a major national and global public health concern, with the risk of unsafe food varying worldwide. Food produced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) presents unique challenges and risks to global public health. These regions often face limitations in resources, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks, which can compromise food safety standards and increase the risk of contamination and foodborne illnesses.
Additionally, agricultural practices in LMICs may involve the use of pesticides, antibiotics, and other chemicals without proper regulation or oversight. Furthermore, environmental pollution, including soil and water contamination from industrial activities and improper waste disposal, can also pose risks to food safety and public health. The globalization of food supply chains further amplifies these risks, as food produced in LMICs may be exported to other regions, potentially spreading contaminants and pathogens across borders. Moreover, challenges such as climate change and rapid urbanization can exacerbate food safety risks by altering ecosystems, increasing the prevalence of foodborne pathogens, and disrupting traditional food production and distribution systems.
Addressing the risks associated with food produced in LMICs required a multi-faceted approach (known as One Health) that tackles the complex interplay between human, animal, and environmental factors that influence the safety of food supply. The article emphasizes the importance of implementing a One Health approach to develop farm-level interventions that will reduce levels of foodborne bacterial pathogens in livestock in LMICs.
Some of the farm-level food safety concerns highlighted in the paper included “Animal health, low level of good agriculture practices, and the misuse of antimicrobials.. . . mobilizing efforts to address climate change, food safety, disaster mitigation, and lifestyle adaptations is crucial in combating both emerging and current infectious disease threats.”