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Food hazards, including biological (e.g., bacteria, viruses, parasites), chemical contaminants (e.g., allergens), and physical contaminants (e.g., glass, hair, foreign objects), can enter the food supply from “farm to table.” In addition, there are inherent risks associated with food which often passes through many stages of processing, handling, storage, transportation, and consumer end use. Unfortunately, most of these hazards are difficult to detect when food is purchased or consumed.
Food vendors need to understand and be aware of their behaviour and activities contribute to food safety, quality and wholesomeness.
Illnesses are a burden on public health and contribute significantly to the cost of health. Foodborne illness is a preventable disease and a vastly underreported public health problem worldwide.
HSE develops, owns, and administers the Food Safety & Quality Code, which documents the mandatory minimum requirements for safe food within KAUST; food within KAUST is received, produced, handled, stored, prepared, distributed, transported, and/or offered for sale.
Our role is to provide a broad-based, holistic, risk-based approach to compliance and governance with all food activities at KAUST. These activities include compliance assistance, monitoring and surveillance, audit/inspection, training and awareness, reporting, and supporting community and national partnerships.
We hold our proponents, service providers, vendors, food service at our events and exhibitions to the highest standards of food safety and quality delivery while ensuring the implementation of recognized regulatory standards and food safety management systems; Good Hygiene Practices GHPs, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP – Codex Alimentarius) and Internal Responsibility Systems.
KAUST aims to be a university leader and national contributor to food safety and quality best practice, while meeting relevant legislative requirements and codes. KAUST aims to be innovative with its applied research and collaborative approach with national and community partners, and interdisciplinary research centers.
