The Sixth Joint CSL/JIFSAN International Symposium on Food Safety and Nutrition:
Bioactive Food Components

The objective of the CSL/JIFSAN Joint Symposium was to engender a better understanding of the current efforts related to research, regulations and policy relative to functional foods and ingredients. The selected speakers did an excellent job of depicting the current situation and issues associated with the demonstration of the safety and efficacy of functional or bioactive ingredients. The presentations also showed the many differences in the regulatory sphere between the US and the EU. The major issues appear to be related to defining the science required to establish efficacy and thereby the basis for product claims. Presentations also highlighted the relevance of a number of emerging scientific areas that demand attention. These can be summarized as follows:

• Biomarkers – identification of meaningful markers associated with relevant bioactive agents and the health conditions purportedly affected
• Consumer research – our current understanding of the drivers of consumer food related behaviors is quite inadequate and as a consequence it is difficult to comprehend or predict consumer understanding of health-related product claims. A greater investment in sound consumer behavioral research is imperative.
• Identification of bioactive agents – research in this area is critical and must not only continue to be supported but must somehow be enhanced. Efforts should be directed to a consideration of ways of providing incentives to the private sector to increase their research commitments as well as efforts to seek greater government funding.
• Regulatory harmonization – significant gaps exist between the US and Europe. Presumably, other countries also have differing regulatory environments. The Symposium clearly identified the need for greater harmonization of regulatory environments across geographies. This will be important to the current trends in globalization of trade.
• Nutritional risk – was an area shown to be of increasing importance and yet an area receiving little attention. The need for greater research on this subject will become even more evident as the functional food category evolves.
• “Omics” will influence the food related activities in a great varieties of ways, some trends are already apparent and there was a consensus that this is only the “tip of the iceberg”. Hence, the understanding of the relationship between gene expression, nutrition and health will become a major societal driver in the decades ahead. Additionally, the “omics” technological advances also enhance our analytical capabilities.

Date: June 28-30, 2005

Location:

University of Maryland University College
Inn and Conference Center
Adelphi, MD (USA)

• Complete Announcement (PDF)
   
• Programme (PDF)
   
• Workshop Proceedings and Presentations
  

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