Framework for evaluation of food safety in the circular food system

In order to minimise food waste, side streams from feed and food production are increasingly being (re-)used in food supply chains, contributing to circularity in food and agricultural systems. However, reuse may impact food safety; contaminant residues present at low levels in biomass may accumulate when reusing streams. To assess potential food safety issues related to circular food systems, this study developed a three-step framework: (1) describe changes in the food supply chain due to the circularity transition; (2) identify potential food safety hazards; and (3) prioritise hazards by assessing their presence in final foods and their effects on human health. Persistence of hazards in the environment and potential transfer from the environment to final food products are included. The framework was tested in three case studies and enabled prioritisation between hazards. Based on the case study results, circularity influences hazard presence (via persistence and transfer) more than the health effects of the hazards themselves.