"Food safety policy is based on a global and integrated approach. That is, it is applied throughout the entire chain, an idea that has been coined in the phrase 'from farm to fork'," said Professor Isabel García-Jalón, who participated in the workshop "Food Safety, Today," organized by the University of Navarra at partnership with McDonald's.

Isabel García-Jalón pointed out that "the main responsible parties are the producers, from the primary sector to industry and distribution; the competent authorities, who control and guarantee food safety through surveillance and control systems". Consumers are also involved in the process, who are "responsible for storing, handling and cooking food properly".

About European legislation in this topic, the professor pointed out that "the White Paper on Food Safety, which the EU disseminated in January 2000, proposes, among other measures, the creation of an independent European food agency to be assigned essential tasks in subject safety."

Elaboration of a 'guide on food safety'.

The partnership plan on food safety signed by the University of Navarra and McDonald's, in the framework of which the workshop was organized, foresees the elaboration of a guide on food safety. "The goal consists of providing some basic principles on food hygiene, so that the consumer will find simple and clear guidelines on aspects related to the purchase, labeling, conservation and processing of food," explained Isabel García-Jalón, who indicated that the guide will be aimed at consumers.

Also speaking at the workshop were Ignacio Martínez Alfaro, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food; Juan José Francisco Polledo, former director general of Public Health of the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs; and Natalia Mota, consultant of department Quality at McDonald's Spain. The latter also advocated the implementation of self-monitoring systems in all companies in the food sector and highlighted the role of the health authorities in promoting this internship.