Biological hazards mainly refer to the pollution of food raw materials, processing and products by organisms (especially microorganisms) and their metabolic processes, metabolites (such as toxins), parasites, their eggs and insects. Common biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi.
2. Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards in food refer to the hazards caused by toxic chemicals polluting food. Chemical hazards can lead to acute poisoning or chronic cumulative injury, including naturally occurring chemicals, residual chemicals, chemicals artificially added during processing and chemicals accidentally contaminated.
Common chemical hazards include heavy metals, natural toxins, pesticides, detergents and other chemical hazards. Chemical hazards in food may lead to acute poisoning, chronic poisoning, allergy, physical development, fertility, carcinogenesis, teratogenesis and death.
3. Physical hazards
Refers to foreign objects that may cause physical harm after eating. Physical hazards are usually described as objects or foreign bodies from the outside. Compared with chemical hazards and biological hazards, physical hazards have their own characteristics, which consumers often see.
So it is also the reason why consumers often express their dissatisfaction and complaints. Physical hazards include broken bones, gravel, iron filings, sawdust, insect residues such as hair and cockroaches, and visible foreign bodies such as broken glass. Physical hazards not only pollute food, but also often damage the health of consumers.
4, the harm of genetic modification
Since 1973, Professor Cohen of Stanford University in the United States has successfully developed transgenic technology and gradually applied it to the production of agricultural products, but no one can give a definite answer as to whether genetically modified food is safe.
1In March, 1999, Nature published a paper by Losey et al. of Cornell University, arguing that genetically modified crops were toxic and shocked the world. The report that transgenic Bt corn poisoned monarch butterfly larvae can be regarded as an example of short-term adverse reactions of transgenic crops. It is speculated that the discovery of long-term side effects will take some time, just like the side effects of HCH, DDT, PPA and other drugs.
In June 2000, EU countries decided to suspend the cultivation and circulation of genetically modified products. Japan once believed in the safety of genetically modified food, but after the publication of Losey et al.' s paper, it will also conduct further research on the safety of genetically modified food.
On the one hand, the application of transgenic technology has brought unprecedented opportunities to the development of food industry, on the other hand, the uncertainty of genetically modified food safety has also brought unprecedented challenges to food safety.
Necessity of food safety management
With the increasing material wealth of society, the continuous progress of science and technology and the gradual improvement of living standards, consumers show unprecedented interest in the whole process of food production, processing, storage, transportation and sales, and constantly ask the government and food production enterprises to assume more responsibilities in food quality, food safety and consumer protection.
With the increasing global food trade, both importing and exporting countries have the responsibility to strengthen their own food management systems and implement food management strategies based on risk analysis. Politicians and scientists in most countries believe that an effective food management system is the basis for ensuring the health and safety of domestic consumers.
Since the beginning of the new century, social, political and trade problems caused by food safety problems have occurred from time to time, and food safety management regulations, institutions, supervision, information and education around the world are changing rapidly. It is necessary to keep abreast of the trends and related research results of food safety management in various countries.
Choosing a food safety management system suitable for China's national conditions, embodying the people-oriented principle in Scientific Outlook on Development, and realizing comprehensive and coordinated economic and social development are the main challenges facing China's food safety management.
Refer to the above contents: Baidu Encyclopedia-food safety hazards, Baidu Encyclopedia-food safety management system.