"Unsafe food and poor nutrition are each a problem on their own, but together, they represent a monumental public health crisis," said Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General, opening a landmark technical meeting in Vienna in July. Organized by the IAEA in collaboration with FAO and WHO, the event brought together experts from 14 countries to confront a growing, underexplored challenge: the complex and compounding links between food-borne hazards, food safety and human nutrition.
Although both affect the human body, food-borne hazards and nutrition have long been treated as separate issues. But contaminants like mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticide residues and microplastics do more than threaten food safety - they also impair growth, gut health, hormone regulation and nutrient absorption. Left unaddressed, these threats can contribute to stunting, chronic diseases and widespread malnutrition.
Across the three-day meeting, discussions focused on how food-borne hazards contaminate the food chain, and how they affect food safety and human health and nutrition outcomes in the short, medium and long term.
Food Safety and Malnutrition Need Joint Response
Opening the event, Mokhtar emphasized the urgency of the issue: "Food safety and nutrition interact in ways that are yet to be fully understood. Food safety hazards are implicated in malnutrition by reducing nutrient absorption and increasing nutrient losses; conversely, malnutrition makes humans more vulnerable to toxicity associated with food contaminants. Given this intricate interaction, food safety and nutrition must be considered as two sides of the same coin. They demand a joint response."
This view was echoed by partners from FAO and WHO, as speakers emphasized the need to adopt a holistic 'One Health' approach - one that integrates human, animal and environmental health. "In the face of climate change, safeguarding nutrition and food safety demands an integrated approach. These challenges are deeply interconnected-what affects our planet affects our plates. Only by addressing them together can we build resilient food systems, protect health, and ensure well-being for generations to come," said Simone Moraes Raszl from the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO.
"Food safety and nutrition have long been treated as separate domains," added Markus Lipp, Senior Food Safety Officer at the FAO. "But we now know that these issues are deeply intertwined. A shared scientific foundation and stronger collaboration between sectors is essential to ensure safe and nutritious food for all."
From Science to Action
Over three days, experts highlighted scientific advances, including nuclear and isotopic techniques that can detect contaminants, assess biological and physiological impact and inform policymaking.
Presentations ranged from country-specific case studies in Austria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Tanzania, the United States of America and Zambia, to discussions on risk assessment, co-exposure to hazards and the role of nuclear techniques in nutrition research. Speakers also stressed the importance of considering the safety hazards emerging from all components together and not limited to each food product independently.
Discussions from the meeting showed that food-borne hazards affect all countries, but the impact is felt more acutely in vulnerable settings. Several speakers highlighted how contaminants like mycotoxins in staple diets or heavy metals in breast milk can impair immune systems, stunt growth or contribute to diseases like oesophageal cancer. Nuclear techniques help researchers understand not only what is present in food, but also how these substances interact with the body over time.
"By integrating nuclear techniques with conventional research, we are unlocking critical insights into how these substances, food contaminants and residues interact with the human body," said Rola Bou Khozam, Head of the Food and Control Section of the IAEA. "This scientific evidence is vital not only for academic and research purposes but for empowering decision makers with data they need to design informed, effective policies and interventions that protect public health, strengthen food safety systems and enhance nutrition outcomes globally."
Experts from the IAEA, FAO, WHO, and member countries engage in technical discussions to define joint research priorities and strategies addressing the nexus of food safety and nutrition. (Photo: V. Owino/IAEA)
Bridging Knowledge Gaps
Experts proposed a collaborative research agenda to guide future studies and technical cooperation projects leveraging nuclear techniques to understand the food safety-nutrition nexus.
Participants recommended more evidence-based strategies, supported by better analytical capacities and relevant, validated data collection mechanisms for calculating more accurate exposure and risk estimates. It was noted that data from developing countries are missing or scarce, making mitigating efforts-including public awareness-very difficult.
"Nuclear techniques, alongside conventional methods, are valuable tools for monitoring, assessing, and mitigating these risks, contributing to food safety and public health," said Cornelia Loechl, Head of Nutritional and Health-related Environmental Studies Section in the IAEA Division of Human Health. "They can also be used to measure nutrition outcomes such as body composition and the quantity of breast milk consumed by infants and to assess gut health."
Atoms4Food and the Way Forward
The meeting aligned with the Atoms4Food initiative, launched in 2023 by the IAEA and FAO. The initiative helps countries boost agricultural productivity, enhance food safety monitoring systems through the application of nuclear and related technologies and improve nutrition amid climate change and economic shocks.
Participants of the Joint Technical Meeting on Food Safety and Nutrition Inter-Linkages, representing 14 countries and three UN agencies, gathered at the AEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria, to mark the conclusion of three days of collaboration and knowledge exchange. (Photo: A. Elwertowska/IAEA)
