International Food Safety Congress Convened in Istanbul

November 6, 2026 · haberton.com

The 9th International Food Safety Congress, which began in Istanbul, addressed artificial intelligence-powered early warning systems, global risks, and misinformation on social media.

International Food Safety Summit in Istanbul

The 9th International Food Safety Congress, where the latest global developments and scientific innovations in food safety are discussed, has begun at the Istanbul Grand Cevahir Hotel & Convention Center. Organized under the coordination of the Food Safety Association, in cooperation with the International Association for Food Protection, and with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the event will last for two days. The event is being held under the theme 'Access to Safe Food: Everyone's Right, Everyone's Responsibility.' According to data shared by the congress organization, approximately 400 experts from 11 countries gathered at the event. At the biennial summit, 65 oral presentations and 34 poster presentations are shared with participants within the framework of 12 sessions.

Global Losses and Foodborne Illnesses

Filis Gergerli, President of the Food Safety Association, drew attention to the direct impact of safe food on economic development and foreign trade. Pointing to global data announced by the World Health Organization in 2026, Gergerli reported that in 2021, unsafe foods led to 866 million cases of illness and 1.52 million deaths worldwide. Gergerli, President of the Food Safety Association, stated that the productivity loss during the same period reached $647 billion and noted the strategic importance of food safety as follows:

'Food safety is an integral part of countries' development and progress journey. It protects health; strengthens economic resilience, continuity in production, and trust in international trade.'

Production Power and Strategic Approach

Speaking at the congress opening, Selim Kaplan, Head of the Food Codex and Feed Legislation Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, stated that food has become a strategic tool and instrument of pressure in global relations. Selim Kaplan emphasized that Turkey has a strong infrastructure, exporting agricultural and food products to approximately 200 countries, beyond meeting its domestic demand. Reminding that the safe food chain cannot be protected solely by public inspection mechanisms, Kaplan stated that producers, industrialists, and consumers must undertake shared responsibility. The ministry representative announced that food literacy projects are being resolutely continued to ensure the public accesses correct information.

Early Warning with Artificial Intelligence

Congress President Dr. Samim Saner stated that artificial intelligence technologies play a vital role in transforming the vast data collected in food production facilities into analytics. Stating that digital systems can detect risks before they even arise, Congress President Dr. Samim Saner drew attention to the necessity of methodological transformation:

'We now need food safety systems that can not only detect problems that have occurred but also foresee problems that have not yet emerged.'

Dr. Samim Saner continued his assessment on the subject, stating that the approach to food safety has fundamentally changed:

'Yesterday's question was, ‘Is our product safe?’ Tomorrow's question will be, ‘How early can we detect the change that could threaten the safety of our product?’'

Misinformation and Consumer Perception

Another prominent agenda item at the congress was food and health claims spread on social media without scientific basis. Prof. Dr. Barbaros Özer, Chairman of the Congress Scientific Advisory Board, stated that the issue has rapidly turned into a tool for perception management and that misleading information distorts consumer choices. Within the scope of the summit, a panel will be held with the participation of Prof. Dr. Ali Esat Karakaya, Prof. Dr. Taner Damcı, Prof. Dr. Barbaros Özer, Prof. Dr. Murat Baş, Prof. Dr. Elgiz Yılmaz Altuntaş, and Levent Küçük. The session will comprehensively discuss combating misinformation in food and conveying correct information.

International Cooperation and Gastrophysics

Dr. Manan Sharma, President of the International Association for Food Protection, stated that their organization, which unites over 4,500 experts worldwide, contributes to the global food chain through knowledge sharing and training activities. Prof. Charles Spence, an academic from Oxford University who gave a presentation at the opening conference, presented his research in the field of grophysics to the participants. Spence scientifically explained with data that the perception of flavor is not limited to taste organs alone, and that sensory factors such as smell, sight, and hearing directly shape the consumption experience. Throughout the summit, digital traceability and early warning systems in the supply chain will continue to be evaluated.

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