A Holistic Perspective on Food Safety and Public Health
At the online event titled “The Invisible Threat from Farm to Table: How Food Safety Affects Public Health,” organized by Cyprus International University (CIU), the impacts of food safety on individual and public health were discussed comprehensively. The program, held via the Zoom platform, attracted significant interest from Nutrition and Dietetics students and graduates, professionals working in the food sector, and participants interested in the topic. The event was moderated by Assist. Prof. Dr. Nazife Hürer, a faculty member of the CIU Faculty of Health Sciences, and featured Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Dağ, a faculty member of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Lokman Hekim University, as the guest speaker.
During the event, it was emphasized that access to safe food forms the foundation of a healthy society, and negligence at any stage of the chain from food production to consumption can lead to serious public health problems. It was noted that chemical residues, microbiological contamination, improper storage and preparation processes, and insufficient inspections pose significant risks for foodborne illnesses. According to data from the World Health Organization, approximately 600 million people worldwide fall ill each year due to unsafe food, and around 420,000 people lose their lives as a result.
In his remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Dağ stated that food safety cannot be ensured solely through final product control, noting: “Within the ‘farm-to-table’ approach, risks must be monitored and managed at every stage. Science-based legislation, effective inspection systems, and conscious consumer behavior are the fundamental elements of access to safe food.”
The event also highlighted the importance of transitioning from a reactive inspection approach to a predictive and risk-based model in food safety. As a result of developed digital technologies, vulnerable points in the production and supply chain can be identified at an early stage, enabling more effective protection of public health. The event aimed to contribute to increasing science-based awareness of food safety and strengthening the preventive health approach.