One Health approach to addressing food safety in low- and middle-income countries

This presentation explores how a One Health approach can be used to address food safety challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where traditional and informal markets remain the primary source of food for most consumers. It highlights the substantial health and economic burden of foodborne diseases, presents evidence from studies in Asia and Africa, and demonstrates that food safety risks can be reduced through risk-based approaches rather than strict command-and-control regulation. The presentation reviews successful interventions combining enabling policies, training, simple technologies, and incentives to improve hygiene practices, reduce microbial contamination, and enhance business performance in informal food markets. It also examines the links between traditional markets, zoonotic disease emergence, and pandemic risk, emphasizing the need for integrated solutions that protect public health while maintaining the livelihoods and food access benefits these markets provide. The authors conclude that effective food safety improvements in LMICs require a “three-legged stool” approach combining supportive regulatory environments, technology and capacity building, and incentives for behavior change within a broader One Health framework.
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