Despite there being no food crisis in Moldova, there are a lot of problems with the quality and safety of foods. According to Iurie Gotisan, author of the study “Food safety from the perspective of a joint informational system”, diet problems in Moldova are caused not by the lack of food, but by poverty. The study was presented on Thursday by IDIS Viitorul, IPN reports.
Moldova has an international food safety index of 60.4 out of 100. Our neighbors Romania and Ukraine have scores of 63.3 and 58, respectively. The USA and Singapore, for example, have 89 points.
The study shows that food expenses are very high in Moldova – about 40% of the people’s income. In the EU, the average is 15%. The author notes that in Moldova foods are sold in unhygienic places, illegal trade is flourishing and smuggled goods flood the market, without passing any quality and safety controls.
According to the study, the required measures include investments in the producing and processing of agrifoods, in renovating the manufacturing and storing infrastructure, and developing and promoting competent social policies.
Commenting on the findings, expert Viorel Chivriga added that since 1990 only the consumption of bread and bakery products has increased. Poverty doesn’t allow people, especially the elderly, to access a more diverse range of foods, recommended for a healthy diet.
The presentation of the study was attended by Deputy Ministry of Agriculture Veaceslav Cernat, who admitted that the ministry experts are also concerned about the issues identified in the study.
