Countries Enhance Food Safety with Nuclear Testing Techniques for Chemical, Microbial Hazards
More than 200 food safety experts across 14 countries in Asia and the Pacific have been trained in the use of nuclear techniques to test for microbial and chemical hazards, through a project led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The project began in 2016 and has enabled food safety professionals in participating nations to conduct analyses in-house rather than outsourcing the task abroad. The nuclear techniques taught to the participants can be used to analyze residues and food contaminants in foods of animal origin, execute quality assurance and controls, and maintain equipment. The program also involved scientific meetings and interlaboratory proficiency testing schemes, as well as group training on analytical methods, laboratory quality management, equipment maintenance, and troubleshooting.