What is the impact of chemical hazards (including nanomaterials and microplastics) in food and how can we reduce it?

Background

At the heart of our role is the need to ensure food is safe and what it says it is, and in doing so protect consumers from risks within the food system and ensure high food standards. Core to this is a risk analysis process which relies on independent, science-led risk assessment and socio-economic analytical evidence, to support effective risk management decisions. To assure food safety and standards, we must also recognise that the UK is part of an international food supply chain, where we only produce around 50% of all the food we eat in the UK. Our exit from the EU and push for wider international trade has further highlighted how we need to understand the role of trade and international differences in production systems and food standards.

Next steps

Please contact the FSA Science Strategy, Research and Capability Unit at ari@food.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

FSA Areas of research interest

Related UKRI funded projects


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    Funded by: Innovate UK

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    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on developing sustainable bionanocomposite materials for food packaging to improve food safety and reduce waste, directly addressing the impact of chemical hazards in food.

  • FoodSafeR - A joined-up approach to the identification, assessment and management of emerging food safety hazards and associated risks

    In Europe, each year foodborne hazards, including bacteria, parasites, bacterial toxins and allergens, already cause more than 20 million cases of illness and thousands of deaths. Foodborne chemical risk, often associate...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on identifying, assessing, and managing emerging food safety hazards, including chemical hazards, and developing a proactive food safety warning and management system.

  • Development of plant-based, dissolvable, edible, single-serve food and drink sachets to replace single-use plastic packaging

    COVID-19 has only accelerated the rising trend of at-home food delivery services. Single service meal kits offer maximum user convenience and minimise food waste through providing individual pre-measured portions. By con...

    Funded by: ISCF

    Lead research organisation: XAMPLA LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project partially answers the question by addressing the issue of single-use plastic sachets, but does not specifically mention chemical hazards or nanomaterials.

  • UV-TOP: UV Treatment Of Powders

    A huge volume of powders are processed within the food industry in the UK. They are vulnerable to biological contamination and this proposed project will allow mitigation of that risk and therefore reduce outbreaks of fo...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: JENTON INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

  • HOLiFOOD - Holistic approach for tackling food systems risks in a changing global environment

    The overall objective of HOLiFOOD is to improve the integrated food safety risk analysis (RA) framework in Europe to i) meet future challenges arising from Green Deal policy driven transitions in particular in relation t...

    Funded by: Horizon Europe Guarantee

    Lead research organisation: QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project aims to improve the integrated food safety risk analysis framework, including the development of early warning and emerging risks prediction systems for known and unknown food safety hazards.

  • Food Quality and Health - Sustaining the Future

    Demand for food is changing because of population growth, changing diets and increasing affluence. Food production is under increasing pressure as water and other natural resources become scarcer and competition for the ...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Reading

  • Developing innovative green packaging materials

    Food and drink packaging (\>$300Bn/year global market) relies on plastics and a variety of chemicals now considered hazardous to health and dangerous to the environment. These chemicals usually impart barrier properti...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: JAMES HUTTON LIMITED

  • UK Food Safety Research Network

    The UK has a strong commitment to food safety, with food manufacturers being entirely focused on making foods that are healthy and safe for their customers. With the assistance of government departments, there are many p...

    Funded by: BBSRC

    Lead research organisation: Quadram Institute

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project specifically addresses the impact of chemical hazards in food and proposes a research network to improve food safety.

  • Reducing plastic packaging and food waste through product innovation simulation.

    THE PROBLEM Plastic packaging waste is a major issue that has recently entered public consciousness, with the British government committing to a 25-year plan that would phase out disposable packaging by 2042. Around 41% ...

    Funded by: UKRI

    Lead research organisation: City, University of London

  • Resilience Fund project to support project 79323 in reducing food waste, mitigating Covid-19 disruption

    Covid-19 has disrupted the global food industry, with the UN warning that the world is facing the worst food crisis in half a century. Food waste expert, Kevin Quigley, has cautioned that the UK could now miss its Sustai...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: MIMICA LAB LTD