In April, more than 135 food system stakeholders gathered in Kathmandu for a national policy consultation to discuss opportunities to strengthen produce safety in Nepal. The group’s recommendations were captured in a draft resolution which will be shared with the government representatives charged with developing strategies to implement a new, more stringent food safety law.
“Food safety is pivotal to building a sustainable food system in Nepal and supporting a well-nourished population,” said Aditya Khanal, associate professor and agricultural economist at Tennessee State University. “And while Nepal has enacted numerous policy initiatives to strengthen food safety systems, microbial foodborne pathogens—particularly in fruits and vegetables—have received less attention than chemical contaminants and physical hazards.”