Advances in the Standards & Applied Sciences

Advances in the Standards & Applied Sciences

Importance of standardized protocols in food toxicology and risk assessment: A global imperative for food safety

Document Type : Review Article

Author
ehsan zayerzadeh
Department of Food Toxicology, Food Technology and Agricultural Products Research Center, Standard Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
10.22034/asas.2026.536111.1085
Abstract
Food toxicology plays a vital role in identifying and evaluating chemical hazards in the food chain, directly contributing to food safety and public health protection. This review explores the essential relationship between food toxicology and food safety, emphasizing how effective toxicological assessment supports risk analysis, regulatory oversight, and informed decision-making. A central focus of the paper is the growing need for standardization in food toxicology practices. Despite significant scientific progress, the absence of harmonized testing protocols across the globe leads to inconsistent data, challenges in risk assessment, reduced international comparability, and regulatory uncertainty. This lack of standardization can hinder timely responses to emerging food contaminants and complicate global food trade. The review outlines the major benefits of standardization, and discusses key obstacles. Drawing on international initiatives and expert recommendations, the paper proposes strategic approaches to overcome them. This review not only summarizes international initiatives but also presents a novel operational framework for harmonizing food toxicology protocols across diverse regulatory and resource settings, highlighting the role of emerging technologies, including omics-based approaches and AI-driven predictive models. These innovations aim to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering actionable strategies for evidence-based risk assessment, international trade facilitation, and enhanced consumer trust.
Keywords
food toxicology
standardization
food safety
risk assessment
Subjects
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Advances in the Standards & Applied Sciences
Volume 3, Issue 3
Spring 2025
Pages 100-106