New WHO Manuals Highlight Shift Toward Preventive Food Safety

The updated guidance reflects a shared conclusion across public institutions and private actors: prevention, early detection, and reliable data are central to protecting consumers and maintaining confidence in increasingly complex food systems. The WHO says timely detection and clear communication at the national level determine whether a food safety incident remains local or escalates into an international emergency, particularly within the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN).

The manuals aim to reinforce that foundation. They outline how countries can improve indicator-based and event-based surveillance, strengthen outbreak investigation teams and integrate laboratory, environmental, and food chain data to support risk assessments. According to the WHO, more robust national systems translate into clearer, more actionable notifications through INFOSAN, and faster coordination when risks cross borders.

The release comes as food safety is increasingly linked to broader health and sustainability debates. Recent population-level research has underscored the long-term health implications of food system practices. A large French cohort study published in Nature Communications found that higher consumption of food preservatives was associated with an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes. The analysis, based on dietary and health data from more than 100,000 adults who were tracked between 2009 and 2023, identified associations between higher intake of several widely used preservatives and elevated diabetes risk, after adjusting for lifestyle and nutritional factors.

While the WHO manuals do not address specific additives, they reflect a wider shift toward surveillance systems capable of detecting emerging risks and long-term trends. The guidance incorporates tools for self-assessment, decision-making and standardized field investigations, with the stated aim of helping countries move from fragmented or pilot initiatives to sustainable, integrated surveillance across the food chain.

Industry developments mirror this emphasis on early detection. In December, diagnostics company Hygiena received international recognition for a multiplex PCR test that simultaneously detects Salmonella and Cronobacter, two pathogens considered critical risks in powdered infant formula. The test, validated under ISO 16140-2, consolidates what previously required separate analyses and delivers results in under 20 hours, according to the company. Public health authorities, including the WHO, have repeatedly stressed that faster detection and response can reduce downstream health impacts and limit reliance on antimicrobial treatments.

Governments are also strengthening coordination. Mexico and the United States have intensified joint food safety initiatives focused on training producers and harmonizing laboratory methodologies for fresh and minimally processed foods. Through the Food Safety Alliance Committee, agencies including SENASICA, COFEPRIS, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have worked to align preventive standards and improve outbreak response. Officials have pointed to the Binational Outbreak Notification Protocol as a mechanism that has enabled timely communication during recent Salmonella incidents linked to produce.

Within Mexico, food safety has become a central policy issue. At the third National Congress on Agricultural Health and Food Safety in 2025, government, academic, and private sector representatives emphasized prevention as a public investment. Javier Calderón, Director General, SENASICA, said agricultural health and food safety function as public goods that underpin sovereignty, competitiveness and consumer trust. Speakers highlighted climate-driven shifts in pest and disease patterns and called for predictive, technology-driven surveillance systems supported by trained personnel and coordinated emergency planning.

Mexico’s institutional capacity has been shaped by decades of investment. The National Reference Center for Animal Parasitology and Analytical Technology (CENAPA) marked its 50th anniversary in 2025, underscoring its role in diagnosing animal diseases, monitoring residues in animal-derived foods, and supporting access to international markets. SENASICA has cited the center’s diagnostic infrastructure and real-time response capabilities as key components of the country’s food safety framework.

Beyond regulation and diagnostics, food safety debates increasingly intersect with inclusion, sustainability, and innovation. Interviews with food system leaders point to structural challenges that extend beyond compliance. Beatriz Jacoste, CEO, KM ZERO Food Innovation Hub, argues that traditional R&D models are insufficient to address current disruptions, from geopolitical risk to shifting consumption patterns. She says that unified innovation platforms are needed to make open innovation accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in regions such as Latin America that play a central role in global food supply.

Inclusive food systems have also gained attention in Mexico. Raquel Picornell, CEO, Allergen Free Mexico, frames food safety as both a public health issue and a matter of access. With an estimated 15% of the global population living with dietary restrictions, Picornell argues that inclusive gastronomy is increasingly relevant to tourism, cultural identity, and economic development. Initiatives in states such as Aguascalientes have tested models that integrate allergen management, transparent sourcing, and local culinary traditions into tourism strategies.

The approach has gained urgency as Mexico prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Organizers are expected to comply with international human rights and non-discrimination standards, including access to safe food. Allergen Free Mexico has promoted the development of certification standards for allergen-safe and transparent food services, aimed at restaurants, hotels, stadium vendors, and other touchpoints frequented by visitors. The initiative draws on international examples, including allergen-friendly zones at US sports venues and standardized allergen labeling practices in the European Union.

Taken together, these developments illustrate a convergence around food safety as an integrated system rather than a standalone function. The WHO manuals situate surveillance and response within that broader context, emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and coordination. By strengthening the systems that generate evidence and guide decision-making, the organization aims to support national authorities, industry, and global networks in managing risks that increasingly span health, trade, and sustainability.