Dr. Mohammadreza Razailashkajani

Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease

Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Panel:

Dr. Yoe, Professor Djazayeri, Mr. Ebrahimi Fakhar, Dr. Sassan Rezai, and Dr. Jamdar

Mr. Schweitzer asked about the reaction of the Iranian population to government messages on food risks and hazards. Iranian participants noted that this was a poorly developed area of concern. Labeling of fast food in the United States was then the focus of attention. Dr. Jackson said that ingredient content and nutritional information are on the menus of some individual restaurants and fast food chains, but not yet uniformly so. This may become obligatory in the future. A discussion ensued on food labeling and food allergies. Food advertisement regulation in the United States was another issue. Dr. Jackson stated that health claims in food advertisements are regulated. Dr. Djazayeri mentioned that some standards for food advertisements exist in Iran.

Dr. Keene was eager to know about the experience of Iranian counterparts with foodborne disease outbreaks, and several Iranian experts responded. Other discussion topics included risk communication, influence of food import executives on food safety legislation in Iran, and high counts of Campylobacter that Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Disease researchers had found in some foods compared with the counts found in feces. The last item was believed to be a technical mistake by most experts at this session.