While globalization brings opportunities for economic growth, international trade creates opportunities for the globaliza- tion of unsafe food. As trade liberaliza- tion opens the territorial boundaries of nation-st ates for traded goods and ser- vices, frequent and recurring instances of food contamination threaten the health, trust and confi dence of consumers. To guarantee sustainability and social respon- sibility, the implementation and enforce- ment of food safety standards should effectively involve multiple actors: states, internat ional organizations, the food industry, consumer groups and civil society. This would create an oppor- tunity to balance trade and food safety concerns, enabling consumers to make informed choices. Today, certainty over food safety may also prevent a down- turn in the volume of traded food as a consequence of staggering energy prices that discourage expensive transport. Better and broader access to systematic food safety information may be part of an answer to the quest for optimised consumer choice.

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