ILSI provides valuable support to the Codex Alimentarius process by anticipating scientific needs, and providing scientific knowledge to meet those needs.
Impact The dietary fiber definition provided by the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU)—which largely conformed to the definition supported by data presented in the ILSI 2008 pre-Codex workshop on the topic—was approved by Codex Alimentarius Commission. Scientific input provided by ILSI was incorporated into the analytical recommendations submitted to the CCNFSDU and forwarded to the Commission for adoption.
Collaborate with FAO to build capacity in developing countries that leads toward the implementation of scientifically-based food regulatory systems and harmonization of food regulations across countries and the effective use of risk analysis in a modern food safety system.
In 2009, ILSI worked with FAO on training activities in Tunisia, Argentina, and Ghana; covering product shelve-life and food safety, safety assessment of biotechnology-derived products, and food composition and biodiversity, respectively.
Impact ILSI helped build local scientific and technical capacity by supporting the training of numerous individuals who are now food safety and food science resources in their countries.
Collaborate with WHO on public health issues: the International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) Risk Assessment Harmonization Project; the WHO Food Safety Programme; and the Health Impacts Database.
ILSI is helping create education tool kits for risk assessment, which are being piloted in Asia; contributing to the development of a guidance document on chemical risk assessment; hosting the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives website; and supporting a database manager for the Health Impacts Database for one year.
Impact ILSI is recognized by WHO staff as a critical source of scientific expertise in risk assessment and obesity prevention interventions. Because of this, ILSI status as a recognized nongovernmental organization with WHO was renewed in January 2011 for three years. Such status illustrates ILSI’s reputation as a source of useful scientific information worldwide.