Interplay of stakeholders in food safety policies
The politics of food safety
Consumers
• Interest
• Primary concern is
quality and safety.
• They want information
about the products they
buy and assurance that
it is free from
contaminants.
• Role
• Advocate for
transparent labelling
and clear information
about nutritional
content.
• Rely on regulatory
agency to enforce
standards to ensure
food meets safety
requirements.
Manufacturers and processors
• Interest
• Produce safe and
quality food at low
costs.
• Maximising profits.
• They want regulations
to be clear and
practical allowing them
to compete and be
productive.
• Role
• They engage with policymakers
to ensure that regulations are
practical, science-based, and
feasible for implementation in
large-scale production facilities.
Agricultural Producers
• Interests
• safety of their crops and
livestock
• protect their investments,
ensure the sustainability of their
operations, and comply with
environmental and food safety
regulations.
• Role
• Use safe and approved
inputs and adhere to
standards set by regulatory
authorities.
Retailers
• Interests
• To offer safe products
• Maintain reputation and
avoid recalls and
potential losses.
• Role
• Ensure that products they sell
comply with food safety
regulations.
• Establish quality control
measures.
• Enforce safety standard
• Respond promptly to recalls or
safety concerns.
Regulatory Agencies
• Interests
• European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA) in the EU, is
focused on protecting public
health and ensuring the safety
of the food supply.
• Develop science based
regulations.
• Role
• set and enforce standards
• Conduct inspections
• Collaborate with consumer
groups and industry to establish
feasible regulations.