U of R researchers compile food safety rankings

Ciaran Dickson, The Star Phoenix; Regina Leader-Post
Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2007

REGINA -- A new publication will be able to tell you just how safe your food is.

Two professors from the University of Regina are creating the Food Safety Performance World Ranking, which ranks the 17 richest countries in terms of food safety performance.

Sylvain Charlebois and Chris Yost will author the report, which will be published in March by the Research Network in Food Systems (RNFS). Charlebois said the purpose of the report is to open a "constructive debate" on the issue of food safety and not to point fingers at any country in particular, though the report was spawned by the increased number of food recalls in Canada.

"We want to look at distribution channels," said Charlebois. "We want to see what goes on with the food before it gets to the consumer's plate."

After consulting with the 30 to 35 members in the RNFS, parameters were set. They were: Consumer affairs, biosecurity and trades, governance and recalls, and traceability and management. Charlebois said once the parameters had been agreed upon it was just a matter of gathering data. He said there are difficulties in gathering the data.

"Not all countries are transparent when it comes to this area," he said. "Globalization had a huge impact on distribution channels. We want to look at things like importing practices and policy to see if (countries are) protecting the public."

Charlebois said there is a need to see how the public is reacting to food safety practices, if at all. He said in preliminary results, Canada is doing well, but others in Europe are doing better. He said some smaller countries, such as the Netherlands and Belgium, seem to be doing better because they've faced the reality of space constraints and had to manage their land appropriately.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Monday the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, a set of proposed new measures setting tougher federal government regulation of food, health and consumer products.

Charlebois and Yost began their project in June 2006, long before this legislation was conceived, but they say the legislation is a step in the right direction.

"It's time to really look into how to make things better," said Charlebois.