Food Safety in the food chain begins with us.

However, when we transition from being consumers to becoming producers, the term “food safety” refers to the management of food and other agricultural products intended for human consumption to ensure their safety. This is done in order to protect consumers from food hazards, which include:

Biological hazards, such as food contamination from disease-causing microorganisms or toxins.
Chemical hazards, such as the presence of undesirable substances like pesticides or other chemicals.

Physical hazards, such as foreign objects that pose a danger, like metal or wires.
Physical hazards are something that farms should prioritize, as they often result from negligence or lack of attention, especially concerning the use of injection needles that can break off. 

Therefore, in the production process, implementing measures such as establishing guidelines for needle usage, handling needle inventory, and segregating broken needles when issues occur is crucial.

Biological hazards are experiences that many people have encountered, including issues like diarrhea and food poisoning caused by infections. 

Our home environment is conducive to the growth of various disease-causing microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. Some common bacteria that often cause problems and are frequently found in animal products are:

Salmonella spp., which is commonly found in meat, eggs, milk, and water.
Staphylococcus aureus, which is commonly found in animal products, seafood, milk, and pastries.

Clostridium botulinum, which is commonly found in canned foods.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which is commonly found in seafood.
Shigella spp., which is commonly found in milk and water.
E. coli, which is commonly found in meat and milk.
Maintaining food safety throughout the food chain is essential to safeguarding public health and ensuring the well-being of consumers.

from a study report at a slaughterhouse in the province of Phetchabun, it was found that there was a high level of contamination with bacteria beyond the standard. Such contamination in the farm level can be reduced by implementing good animal husbandry practices, which help minimize the contamination of bacteria during production.

However, the current challenge in public health is the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria between animals and humans. This is a significant public health concern that has been prevalent for many years. Some examples of drug-resistant organisms are Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and mcr-1 gene-carrying Escherichia coli (E. coli). 

Currently, there is surveillance for drug-resistant organisms in humans, which also includes monitoring for organisms that may contaminate food. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in animals is also increasing, particularly among Staphylococcus aureus. Using antibiotics responsibly is an essential collaborative effort involving both public health and animal health sectors.

Chemical hazards are relevant to trade with other countries, as trade barriers may arise due to chemical-related concerns. Chemical hazards have been a public health issue for both humans and animals. 

For example, residues of antimicrobial drugs found in exported meat or the presence of melamine in milk products can cause abnormalities in children and pigs. To better understand the transmission of toxic substances within the food chain, we can identify various toxic substances in the food supply.

Many of these hazards are not visible to the naked eye, which underscores the importance of ensuring food safety right from the beginning of the production process to ensure that the food we produce is free from such dangers.

Thailand is considered a global kitchen, 

which has led to significant developments in animal husbandry, particularly in farm management and the reduction of antimicrobial usage in animals. Consequently, the meat exported from Thailand is free from chemical residues and drug-resistant bacteria. The important contributing factor to this achievement is the aspect of animal feed production.

To progress toward international standards, practices under the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) system are followed.

 This involves working based on principles of prevention and risk elimination that could pose a danger or insecurity to consumers. This quality assurance system is fundamental for further development into other quality assurance systems. Beyond GMP, other internationally recognized food safety standards and guidelines include:

Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex)
Good Agricultural Practice (GAP)
Good Hygiene Practice (GHP)
Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
British Retail Consortium Standard-Food (BRC)
These standards and guidelines are essential in developing the global food safety system and ensuring consumer safety and confidence in the food supply chain.

The certification of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards for animal feed factories is the responsibility of the Department of Livestock Development. Animal feed producers must manage the environmental conditions of production, 

such as controlling personal hygiene, managing insects and disease-carrying animals, and designing the structure of the production facilities, including the machinery and equipment used in the process. Emphasis is placed on preventive measures rather than corrective actions.

The basic food safety management system and the implementation of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) system are crucial in food production. This involves assessing and controlling the critical points in the food production process to ensure safety.

As mentioned above, the contamination of biological control agents in food is a significant concern and is closely monitored. Using such agents in animal food aims to treat diseases effectively. However, according to the law, 

the use of these agents in animal food cannot be used to prevent or accelerate growth. Proper management of GMP requires analyzing and managing the risks associated with using biological control agents in animal food. This may include issues like drug resistance and allergic reactions due to drug residues in products. Properly following the instructions of the drug manufacturer on the label is essential.

In Europe, the use of medicines in animal food is highly restricted and subject to strict supervision by veterinarians. The use of medicines for human use is not permitted for animals. There are surveillance networks to ensure the highest level of safety for consumers.

Current farm and food management practices have reduced the use of animal medicines, as animals receive appropriate food and are less stressed, resulting in fewer illnesses. However, other substances, 

such as organic mineral elements, are used to promote animal growth in place of antibiotics. For example, zinc oxide is used to control E. coli diarrhea. The source of these substances may come from mining, and if not well regulated, they can lead to contamination in animal food, causing toxicity in animals.

In conclusion, as animal feed producers, we are responsible for the entire food chain. Our actions directly affect the health of the animals we raise. Therefore, implementing a quality management system in animal food production ensures that the food we produce is of high quality and safe for consumption by animals, without causing health issues.

Initiating a quality management system for animal food production starts with defining the quality or characteristics of the food to be produced, evaluating the risks in the production system, planning for management and prevention. This is a challenging task. However, 

stepping into a borderless world and being proactive in developing production practices will lead to producing high-quality animal food and conducting backward verification before it becomes legally enforced, giving us a competitive advantage over others.

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