Key Food Safety Trends in 2023: AI Predictions

This June 2023 report from FOODAKAI and Agroknow outlines the top-10 emerging food safety risks predicted by AI models across key product categories, cross-validated by industry experts. It leverages weekly global forecasts to contrast AI insights with opinions from leaders at Nestlé, Ferrero, and Queen’s University Belfast.

Top Risk Categories

AI flags high-concern areas like confectionery, poultry meat, meat products, cocoa/coffee/tea, nuts/seeds, fruits/vegetables, oils/fats, herbs/spices, dairy, and cereals/bakery, with risk scores reaching 60%. These span 10 categories based on historical incident data.

Key Hazards and Forecasts

Prevalent risks feature Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, pesticides, ethylene oxide (ETO), mycotoxins, and fraud, alongside emergents like Cronobacter sakazakii in dairy and pyrrolizidine alkaloids in cereals. Trends vary: declines in dairy (-24%) and confectionery (-26%), rises in poultry (+10%) and meat (+7%), with late-2023 peaks anticipated.