Fit for human consumption? A descriptive study of Wambizzi pig abattoir, Kampala, Uganda

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbei

Food safety research for development in sub-Saharan Africa: Tapping the expertise of German partners

According to recent estimates by the World Health Organization, the global burden of foodborne diseases is comparable to that of HIV/AIDS or tuberculosis or malaria. Up to 90% of foodborne disease is caused by microbes in perishable foods of which more than 80% are sold in the informal agri-food system. Informal markets, also referred to as wet or traditional markets, are characterized by local products, prices, and marketing channels where actors are often not trained, not licensed, and not paying taxes. However, these markets provide food and jobs to millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. They are also the major markets for most smallholder producers of fresh foods. Lack of evidence on attribution data and limited understanding of risk-based approaches in food safety management only worsen the problem. The Safe Food, Fair Food project, funded by GIZ and led by the International Livestock Research Institute, aims to improve the livelihoods of poor producers and consumers by reducing the health risks and increasing the livelihood benefits associated with meat, milk and fish value chains in sub-Saharan Africa. From 2008-2015 the project was implemented in ten countries South of the Sahara with partners from Africa, Germany and Japan. Key findings include: • Informal markets are integral to food, nutrition and job security in sub-Saharan Africa; • Although hazards are often common in informal markets risk to human health is not necessarily high; • Risks in the informal food chains have been under-researched and need attention; • Risks vary and may not be as serious as perceived: food safety policy should be based on evidence not perceptions; • Participatory methods are useful in studying food safety risks in informal food chains; • Simple interventions could lead to substantial improvements: potable water, electricity, training, standards, appropriate hygienic supervision etc.; • Food safety needs a multi-disciplinary (One Health) and multi-sectoral approach; • Comprehensive, jointly developed and implemented policies are prerequisites for food safety assurance. German partner institutions engaged were the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Freie Universität Berlin, Friedrich-Löffler-Institute, and University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim. More than 30 food safety practitioners, students and scientists were trained in specific laboratory methods for hazard identification (i.e. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Toxoplasma gondii or Trichinella spp.) at German partner institutes or in their home countries, and field isolates were archived at German partner institutes. More than 200 key stakeholders at over 35 institutions in 12 countries were trained on the concepts of risk-based approaches and (participatory) risk assessment. Joint risk assessments and pilot interventions for improving food safety have been disseminated in 15 peer-reviewed journal publications and more than 200 other outputs

Food safety policy in 9 African countries

Introduction Millions of smallholder farmers, many of them women, supply the rapidly growing markets for livestock and fish products in Africa and Asia. In sub Saharan Africa, more than 80% of animal products are sold through informal markets, which lack structured sanitary inspection and are often of ambiguous legal position. Historically food policy has either ignored or been hostile to the informal sector; more recently understanding is growing that the informal food sector can have an important role in supporting livelihoods and improving accessibility to affordable, nutritious foods. Methods A consortium of African and German research institutes conducted a series of food safety policy analyses in 9 countries (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali). The research team in each country was composed of experts from research, education, extension and regulatory organizations with access to public sector documents and procedures. Data were collected from published and unpublished literature, and through a structured questionnaire survey administered by holding consultations with key stakeholders in public and private sectors related to assurance of safe livestock products. The focus of the study was: food safety governance (stakeholders, regulations, inspection); animal source value chains; reported and perceived food safety problems; and, national priorities around food safety. Findings and interpretations In most countries either no regulatory measures/infrastructure are in place to assure food safety in informal markets, or the regulations are derived from industrialized countries and are anti-poor and unworkable. Typically, multiple institutions have mandates for food safety through various regulations or acts targeted to various stages and activities in the food chains. Some important public health hazards are believed to be common in food but few are regularly surveyed; the actual status of many important health hazards is unknown. Most food in the traditional/informal sector is not inspected. Where some inspection occurs, it does not follow a ‘farm to fork pathway’ approach. In South Africa only, are quantitative and qualitative risk assessments applied. There is a lack of systematic, risk-based surveillance and inspection, lack of infrastructure and laboratory facilities, and lack of skilled manpower and appropriate risk analysis tools. In countries studied, food safety policy and implementation is not well suited to: ensuring the safety of animal source foods in informal markets; supporting the livelihoods of the poor farmers and value chain actors; or, enhancing nutrition of poor consumers. Recommendations are made for more appropriate policies based on ‘participatory risk analysis’

Assessment of the parasitic burden in smallholder pig value chains and implications for public health in Uganda

Pig production has only recently become a popular income-generating activity among smallholder farmers in Uganda; over the past 30 years, pig numbers have increased by a tenfold and pork consumption in East Africa is highest in Uganda. Pigs are not a traditional livestock species to Uganda and little is known about the occurrence of parasitic diseases that reduce growth performance and may have implications for public health. An initial systematic literature review conducted by Ocaido et al. (forthcoming), revealed huge data gaps as most zoonotic pig parasites have never been researched in East Africa. As part of comprehensive smallholder pig value chain assessments carried out by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in three administrative districts of Uganda, the presence and importance of pig parasites along the food chain was investigated. Thirty-five focus group discussions with more than 300 pig farmers showed that parasites are perceived to be a big production constraint with intestinal worms and sarcoptic mange ranking second and third after swine fever (Dione et al., 2014). Knowledge about zoonotic pig parasites is limited and practices such as free-ranging and tethering, erratic treatment and self-medication as well as lack of good hygiene on farm are common. This study presents preliminary findings on parasitic diseases that potentially compromise farm productivity (e.g. gastrointestinal helminths and sarcoptic mange) and public health (e.g. Trypanosoma spp., Trichinella spp. and Toxoplasma gondii). The research was carried out with the financial support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, and the CGIAR Research Program on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health, led by the International Food Policy Research Institute, through the Safe Food, Fair Food project at ILRI