During a three-day technical meeting in July, three United Nations (UN) organizations emphasized the need for a joint response to food safety and nutrition rather than addressing the issues independently.

In line with the Atoms4Food initiative launched in 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Health Organization (WHO) convened experts from 14 countries in Vienna to explore the interconnected issues of foodborne hazards, food safety, and human nutrition.

Discussions focused on how foodborne hazards contaminate food across the supply chain, and the implications for food safety and nutrition in the near- and far-term. The experts also explored the application of nuclear techniques to enhance global food safety.

The meeting looked at foodborne hazards and nutrition as two sides of the same coin requiring a joint response, rather than as separate issues. For example, contaminants like mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticide residues, and microplastics not only threaten food safety; they can impair growth, gut health, hormone regulation, and nutrient absorption.

“Food safety hazards are implicated in malnutrition by reducing nutrient absorption and increasing nutrient losses; conversely, malnutrition makes humans more vulnerable to toxicity associated with food contaminants,” remarked IAEA Deputy Director General Najat Mokhtar, Ph.D.

Experts from FAO and WHO underlined the importance of adopting a “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health—as the effects of climate change impact the food system, thereby threatening food safety and nutrition. Speakers also stressed the importance of considering the safety hazards emerging from all components together and not limited to each food product independently.

Scientific advances that could enhance food safety and nutrition were discussed, including nuclear and isotopic techniques for contaminant detection, assessing biological and physiological impacts, and informing policymaking. “By integrating nuclear techniques with conventional research, we are unlocking critical insights into how food contaminants and residues interact with the human body,” said Rola Bou Khozam, Ph.D., Head of the Food and Control Section of the IAEA.

Speakers highlighted how contaminants like mycotoxins in staple diets or heavy metals in breast milk can impair immune systems, stunt growth, or contribute to diseases like esophageal cancer. Nuclear techniques can help researchers understand the presence of contaminants in foods and how these substances interact with the body over time. For example, nuclear techniques can not only help monitor, assess, and mitigate food safety risks—they can also be used to measure nutrition outcomes such as body composition and the quantity of breast milk consumed by infants and to assess gut health.

Meeting participants also recommended more evidence-based strategies, supported by better analytical capacities and relevant, validated data collection mechanisms for calculating more accurate exposure and risk estimates. This is especially crucial for developing countries, where data is missing or scarce, hindering mitigation efforts and public awareness; and although foodborne hazards affect all countries, the impact is felt more acutely in these vulnerable settings.