GTU PortFIR Working Group (Users)
Scope: Information survey to the users of food composition, chemical contamination, microbiological information, about their needs and usage (data sources, format and frequency). Processing and dissemination of the produced information.
Objectives: Suggest methodologies for the users? needs survey and for priority definition related to food, nutrients, chemical contamination and microbiological information to be included on the database and respective formats of making them available. To apply those methodologies, analyse the results, elaborate reports and make them available.
Participants: Assuming that different users have different needs, all the areas of activity on food should be represented, namely: food production and transformation, distribution and retail, food service, clinical nutrition, communication, regulation, training, research, consulting, services and software development.
Coordinator: Roberto Brazão (Instituto Ricardo Jorge)
Status: Active
GTCEA PortFIR Working Group (for an Effective Communication on Food)
Scope: Survey the communication priorities in nutrition and food safety, including the consumer, in order to raise the health protection, reduce the risk and improve the quality of living. Assessment of the communication methodologies and tools and identification of the best communication channels for each message/consumer.
Objectives: Suggest methodologies for the identification of public health and general users? needs and respective priorities. Review of the existent information related with previously identified priorities and different communication methodologies. Propose tools and communication contents. Assessment of the effectiveness and impact of the methodologies created by pilot studies.
Participants: Food business stakeholders: food production, industry, distribution and food service; Public administration: DGAV, ASAE, DGC, DGS; Academia; Consumers associations: DECO.
Coordinator: Paulo Fernandes (Instituto Ricardo Jorge)
Status: Active
RPCA GTA PortFIR Working Group (Sampling)
Scope: Review the available information about the variability of nutritional composition of food and respective consumption data, next to the food production and researchers. To treat the information under the sampling perspective for the nutritional labelling and production of food composition databases.
Objectives: To elaborate a Sampling Guide for the determination of chemical to assist the nutritional labelling and the data production for food composition databases.
Participants: Food production sector, mainly sectorial associations; GPP; ASAE; other institutions that work on food control. Researchers on food composition and epidemiology.
Coordinator: Maria Graça Dias (Instituto Ricardo Jorge)
Status: Stand by
RPCA GTP PortFIR Working Group (Portions) Publication – Guidance for establishing portions
Scope: Standardize the mention “portion” as a unit for presenting nutritional information on the food labelling.
Objectives: Collect the recommendations of the different institutions, at the production sector and researchers level, for standardizing the portion in order to provide the nutritional information of food. Survey the portions used for labelling used on the Portuguese market. Identify the most frequently consumed products in Portugal, by specific food or product range. Develop recommendations to define portion, in order to harmonize it and to help the consumers to make their food choices. Consider exceptions (define which and how to proceed about them). Example: family sized breakfast cereals.
Participants: Food sector: production, industry, distribution and food services; Public administration: DGAV, ASAE, DGC, Academia and institutions related with food and nutrition; Consumers associations: DECO; Market studies companies.
Coordinator: Catarina Dias (Federação das Indústrias Portuguesas Agroalimentares – FIPA)
Status: Stand by
RPIMA GTOMCA PortFIR Working Group (Microbiological Occurrence on the Food Chain)
Scope: Collection of microbiological data on the food chain, namely microorganisms and toxins and its epidemiologic characterization (phenotype, serotype, fagotype, genotype antimicrobial resistance profile, virulence factors)
Objectives: Define data collection and analyses methodologies about: Types of data and respective sources; Database content definition; Data providers validation; How to build confidence relations for data providers; How to ensure there is no data duplication; How to improve the quality of data to be reported; How to define priorities; Create guidance on surveillance criteria. Systematize the microbiological information about pathogens and contamination indicators on the food chain in: Food; Animals intended to be used as food, Surfaces (equipment, tools, infrastructures); Food handlers; Water, ice and air.
Participants: Production sector, distribution and food services, mainly sectorial associations; GPP; ASAE; DGAV, Health Authorities, other institutions that work on food control, Researchers on food microbiology and epidemiology, Public and private laboratories.
Coordinator: Silvia Viegas (Instituto Ricardo Jorge)
Status: Stand by
RPCQA GTGI PortFIR Working Group (Information Management)
Scope: Systematization of the national needs of information directly or indirectly related to the food chemical contamination area, along with the identification its information sources and proposal of models for its sustainable management. Analysis of data and reporting.
Objectives: Collect available data related with the established priorities. Identification of: information gaps; necessities of data harmonization between different sources and interconnections and potential resource optimization. Proposal of databases, respective models, associated costs, models and sustainability plans. Collection, harmonization and data compiling. Definition of indicators, data analysis and reporting.
Participants: Food Sector: Production, industry, public administration: DGAV, ASAE, DGS, DGC, ERSAR; Academia and research institutions related with food and nutrition; Consumers associations: DECO.
Coordinator: Patrícia Inácio (DGAV)
Status: Active
The information generated by PortFIR will match the needs of its users. So, we hope to have the collaboration of all data producers, users and providers on the food area.