Safe and quality feed for European livestock
Safe animal feed is essential for the health of animals and the environment, as well as for the safety of foods of animal origin. However, there is a need for improved monitoring and control of animal feed to ensure that it remains healthy and safe. Ensuring the highest standards for producing and supplying animal feed in Europe is the underlying concept of the QSAFFE (Quality and safety of feeds and food for Europe) consortium, funded by the EU. First, QSAFFE developed and implemented cost-effective tests that can detect contaminated animal feed before it is fed to farm animals. This will dramatically reduce health risks and improve animal products quality and farm productivity. Secondly, the project used risk management approaches to limit false claims about imported animal feed. The project endeavoured to predict emerging risks in the feed supply chain caused by changes in global economics or climate change. Another focus was improving scientists' understanding of how contaminants in feed materials make their way into consumer foodstuffs. Lastly, QSAFFE developed and delivered training on these new tests for relevant users in industry, government and academia. Ultimately, project outcomes will improve the quality and safety of animal feed entering ports from outside the EU, as well as feed and food produced within European countries.
Keywords
Animal feed, food, quality, safety, analytical strategies, contaminants, authenticity
