34 NOVEMBER 2017 COSTA RICA NUKES ITS FOOD FOR SAFETY Nuclear technologies reach far further than most realise. While nuclear power hogs most of the headlines, nuclear technologies can have a monumental impact on the food and drink industry. FT398 From the improvement of environmental Intuitive, simple, fast Integrating hand sanitising into the natural work flow Food Service: Restaurants Food Processing: Manufacturing Plants Acute Care: Hospitals and Surgery Centres Long Term Care: Independent Living, Aged Care Facilities Education: Colleges, Universities, School Systems Other Applications: • Public Libraries • Office Buildings Contact us for more information • Hotels, Casinos 09 477 5706 | melanie.lall@pacifichygiene.com sustainability and the development of land and water management practises, to the combating of malnutrition through positive irradiation-induced mutation and sterilisation of harmful crop-eating insects…food safety experts in Costa Rica are now extolling the virtues of nuclear technology in food safety, making use of nuclear diagnostic equipment and other analytical devices to detect contamination at the Laboratorio Nacional de Servicios Veterinarios (LANASEVE) – the national laboratory of diagnosis and research in animal health. Costa Rica’s engagement with nuclear technology has been a key factor in establishing the laboratories. Prior to setting it up, food producers had to depend on foreign facilities to analyse their food, and food safety expert Yajaira Salazar says the new facility makes the country competitive and independent. “We analyse 310 samples a month, 25% more than we did two years ago, and can now perform marine biotoxin analysis and quality management, among others.” To adhere to international trade and food safety standards, foods need to be analysed and deemed free from contaminants, especially in foreign markets. Under European Commission (EC) regulations, any food imports are required not to exceed maximum levels of contaminants such as heavy metals and aflatoxins, and the country of origin is responsible for compliance. Without ensuring low levels of contaminants, Costa Rica would be unable to trade with Europe. The ability to detect toxins and other contaminants in the most developed countries tends to set the standard for imports worldwide, resulting in tighter and tighter regulations. By concentrating its efforts on high-accuracy nuclear technology, Costa Rica has safeguarded itself from stringent international trade standards. “Globally, technology is getting better at detecting very small traces of residues in food,” LANASEVE food safety expert Mauricio González says, “which is a good thing for consumers, but which means that codes are getting stricter for exporters.” With today’s rapidly evolving international food safety laws, Costa Rica has had to adapt. Using the newly learnt nuclear analytical techniques and equipment, experts at LANASEVE can detect very small traces of contaminants, medicine residue and pesticides in food samples, meeting international requirements. “The more sensitive the equipment, the better we can guarantee the absence of any unwanted products in our food,” González says. The country’s next goal is the refinement of its detection techniques to better tackle pesticides and veterinary drugs such as antibiotics entering the food chain. In a joint effort with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, IAEA hopes to bring nuclear food safety technology to other countries worldwide, increasing international standards and creating a safer food market for all. T E S T I N G
FT-Nov17-eMag
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