Role of chemistry in food safety, environment cited

The 22nd Philippine Chemistry Congress held recently at the Development Academy of the Philippines Convention Center in Tagaytay City highlighted the major role chemistry plays to meet the challenges of food production and the environment.

"Chemistry has always been involved in the chemical analysis of food and the environment, and the standards of performance have continued to increase. We need to apply chemistry to the development of innovative approaches to improve our efficiency and competitiveness, while at the same time minimizing our environmental impact," said Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit, chairman of the national organizing committee and president of the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) which hosted the congress.

The congress focused on the theme "Chemistry in food safety and environment." It gathered experts from the Philippines and abroad, the academe, the government service and the industry itself, to discuss recent developments and trends in the diverse fields of chemistry which deal with food analysis, food quality, national and international standards, environmental analysis as well as the implications for cleaner production and quality education.

Dr. Alicia Lustre, herself a chemist and director of the Food Development Center (FDC) of the National Food Authority (NFA), represented Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap as the keynote speaker.

Lustre emphasized the need to address the safety and suitability of food for human consumption, "good food means tasty and safe food. Becuse food safety is an emotional issue among consumers chemists play a major role in food safety."