**7. Conclusions**

food-borne outbreaks before it happens or at least at a very early stage. Analysis of some of the major incidents involving food-borne illnesses in the world indicate that a majority of them would have been prevented had there been a proper reporting channel from those who were involved but who did not talk due to fear of reprisals and possible loss of jobs [11]. Operationalization of such an alert would enthuse consumer confidence leading to increase the economic development. Such a move would stimulate demand for high quality products that puts the whole food safety management system of the developing countries on a higher trajectory. Easier reporting channels, operationalization of help lines, including mobile apps that consumers and small-scale processors can reach to seek help and meet with experts in

The second aspect that needs quick redress is regional risk assessment. Due to the nature of funding and capacity required to make this happen, countries and institutional collaborations in this area will help developing countries to not only cost-share requisite infrastructure, but also the ensuing data that may be similar in a number of cases. Such an undertaking will help countries avoid duplication of efforts, reduce unnecessary spending on infrastructure, and enhance better collaboration on matters of risk analysis data among neighboring countries. Third, knowledge and training of populations on the food safety basics is the most important aspect in making food safety work best in developing economies. Food technologist and the food technology organizations including those adhering to the IUFoST ought to play a bigger role in pushing food safety agenda and particularly in the area of training and education. Both IUFoST and GHI have a training component (the universal food safety curriculum) that is envisaged to greatly improve consumer and other stakeholders' confidence to play their role of keeping processors and vendors in check with regard to food safety. Creation of awareness to consumers about their rights and privileges confers them confidence and empowers them to keep the food industry and government on toes to deliver on their food safety mandate. All food processors and street vendors, regardless of their remote location and "small" service, must be encouraged to register into clusters of 50–100 or even smaller groups through which expert knowledge on basic hygiene and safe food handling practices can be passed on to them. Fourth, every single cottage industry that is set up must be made comfortable to realize that the food safety legislations are actually for their good and not meant to keep them away from business. This requires a better working relationship between law enforcing bodies and these food startups. The focus for these legislating bodies should be to midwife these businesses first to profitability through functioning food safety systems, rather than focus on levies when

Fifth, massive and urgent educational input is required in the area of abuse of additives, or fraud in using chemicals like calcium carbide as an artificial ripening agent in fruits and vegetables by unscrupulous traders in countries like India, and some places in Kenya [13]. Or even the use of formalin in meat preservation, or large doses of sodium metabisulphite in meat preservation to mention a few. The use of these and other cancer causing chemicals must be addressed to consumers and processors and their relation to cancer or the ensuing impact of that, on households and public health explained. It is very critical to make sure that people are made aware of the dangers of the use of such chemicals and their abuse. However, the education must be complete by making consumers understand the relationship between dose, exposure and the possibility of dangers particularly on additives. This way alarmistic

food safety can provide huge impact.

32 Food Safety - Some Global Trends

the factories can hardly break even.

This chapter has focused on the unique challenges to food safety legislation in some developing economies and the innovative ways in which the stake holders should approach the subject and make it more effective. It has also presented case studies of food safety situations in some developing countries: Asia (India and Nepal), West Africa (Ghana and Nigeria) and East Africa. Finally, it proposes major innovations that could be put into play to make food safety legislation work more effectively in the developing economies.
