Food alerts put the industry and authorities to work to avoid a wave of ‘fake news’

The proverb says that “you don’t play with things you eat.” However, in this context of hyperconnection and generalization of social networks Everything related to food is taking on great importance and, more and more often, warnings or alerts are issued against this or that food. Among the main sources of this type of information, in recent months, is the European network ‘RASFF (Rapid Alert System Feed and Food)’, where the member countries of the European Union notify the rest of different incidents related to food safety (alerts, rejections at the border, notices, etc… From the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) They have been redoubling their efforts to explain the operation of this transparency tool of the European Commission and reporting that, in many cases, the problems detected have stopped at the border and have not created problems in European markets.

From the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) they warn that the notices to consumers “are made by economic operators and, if necessary, the AESAN and the autonomous communities, through their websites and social networks”

Specifically, the agency dependent on the Ministry of Social Rights clarifies that ‘RASFF’ is “an online database of the European Commission on the food and feed alert network” that has its own notification search engine. Regarding these, the AESAN is forceful: “They are not intended to warn the consumer, but rather it is the exchange system of the EU member states”, they point out, highlighting that “for reasons of transparency” part of this tool is publicly accessible. However, they add exhaustively that the notices to consumers “They are carried out by economic operators and, if necessary, the AESAN and the autonomous communities, through their websites and social networks.”

‘RASFF’ and “news taken to the extreme”

In any case, from the Association of Manufacturers and Users, AECOC, its person responsible for Food Safety and Quality Xavier Pera warns that “for a year or so” are observing that ‘RASFF (Rapid Alert System Feed and Food) is the origin of “news taken to the extreme.” In this sense, Pera highlights that the Mass Consumption employers’ association is monitoring this type of information. “They look at notifications that affect Spain and titled ‘Food Alert!’ and then you see that the title and content are mismatched. It is a type of information that is pervasive,” explains the AECOC representative who attributes it to “consumer fear.” In this regard, he admits that they have “information” where temporary drops in sales of between 10 and 15% or “reception of calls to consult” are seen.

“The food industry has not yet become aware of the serious economic damage that this phenomenon of fake news, disinformation or infoxidation can produce”, Fernando Moraleda (LLYC)

For Fernando Moraleda, director of the LLYC Food Office, the food industry “has not yet become truly aware of the serious economic damage that this phenomenon of fake news, disinformation or infoxication can produce.” In his opinion, the agri-food sector will have to “take measures to protect itself and, in this case, it is essential to guarantee a certain stability in the market.”

For her part, the founder of Newtral and journalist Ana Pastor, detects that “We have a big transparency problem in this country, Therefore, we cannot ask people for a question of faith but rather give them data and facts.” Pastor points out, in reference to the AESANm, that “unfortunately, as happened with Covid, We have known that there are certain organisms because there has been a very big crisis. In food, when there are peaks of misinformation, we do detect that people look for information about this organization, what it is, who works in it, etc.”

“Communicate more and better”

For his part, Pera (AECOC) believes that the effect of this type of information depends on the medium in question and the social networks. Along these lines, Pera opts for “pedagogy, as well as the coordination between authorities and expertsalthough it is very difficult because there are many actors and interests behind it” in reference to the right to information and recognizes “the maximum effort to make your voice heard” by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN). In any case, the person responsible for Food Safety at AECOC “we must communicate more and betterespecially on those channels where we are not like Tik Tok.”

Debunking myths about fishing

The fishing sector has taken steps to debunk myths and hoaxes surrounding seafood products and, to do so, it has had an instrument for three years: Fishing Spain. This national Association of Producer Organizations includes those from such prominent ports as Almería, Burela, Celeiro Mallorca or La Coruña. In the words of his manager Antonio Nieto “We were born with the desire to give a voice to the sector and make ourselves available to the consumer.” In this sense, he recognizes that in terms of myths or hoaxes in fishing products “nothing should be taken for granted” and admits that “the sector has been dormant for a while.” Pesca España organizes the I National Fisheries Congress on December 16 in Madrid, with which it wants to publicize the sector from different perspectives, and promotes different dissemination campaigns in the media and social networks about seafood and fishing products.

“We tell reality putting black on white, supported by science”, Antonio Nieto (Pesca España)

So, what is the Pesca España recipe? “We tell reality putting black on white, supported by science”says Nieto, who regrets that myths about fishing are not limited only to fishing products but also to fishing gear. “We are a fishing power in Europe and a regulated industry, excessively in some aspects, we even go further with the self-regulation when we work with scientific organizations,” defends the manager of this producer association.