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Reflections from the UNIDO Asia Food Safety Forum, Bangkok, a blog written by DR. Mark Flanagan.
I recently had the privilege of joining a panel of global experts at the UNIDO Asia Food Safety Forum 2026, held in Bangkok. The forum brought together regulators, policymakers, technology providers and industry leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region to address a shared challenge: how we modernise food safety systems in an increasingly complex, data-rich world.
The theme of the forum – digitalisation, innovation and circularity in food safety – was not theoretical. It was a practical and urgent call to action. As food systems evolve and global trade expands, both regulators and the hospitality sector must rethink how we manage risk, ensure compliance and, ultimately, protect consumers. [unido.org], [unido.org].
One of the clearest messages from the forum was that traditional regulatory models are under strain.
Across many regions – including the UK – regulators are facing:
At the same time, consumer expectations have never been higher. This widening gap between regulatory capacity and industry growth creates a fundamental question for both hospitality leaders and regulators: How do we do more, with less – without compromising standards? The answer repeatedly pointed to one area: data.
A central theme throughout the UNIDO forum was the shift toward data-informed decision-making in food safety systems. Digital tools, artificial intelligence, and integrated data platforms are increasingly being used to:
From my own perspective, working closely with hospitality operators managing millions of safety data points, this shift is long overdue. Historically, regulatory insight has been driven by periodic inspections—a snapshot in time. But businesses today generate continual streams of operational data across:
When aggregated and analysed properly, this data can provide a dynamic, real-time view of risk. The opportunity is clear: Support static inspection models with continual, data-led risk profiling.
During the session, I shared practical insights from working with regulators such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) on remote audit initiatives. While early adoption faced challenges—particularly around trust and usability – the trajectory is now unmistakable. At the forum, wider global developments reinforced this:
These approaches can:
However, it is important to be clear: Digital tools do not replace regulators – they enhance their effectiveness.
If there was one issue that dominated discussion, it was trust. For regulators to rely on business-generated data, several conditions must be met:
Equally, businesses must see value in participating. In hospitality, the strongest driver is not compliance – it is the consumer. Customers expect:
This is why certification programmes and data-led assurance models are gaining traction. When designed correctly, they create a win-win:
For leaders in hospitality and foodservice, the implications are significant:
As highlighted throughout the forum, ensuring safe, high-quality food is a shared global responsibility. We are entering a new era where:
But success depends on one critical factor: Alignment between regulators and industry.
If we get this right, the result is not just compliance – it is more resilient, transparent and trusted food systems.
My key takeaway from Bangkok is simple: The future of food safety will not be built on inspections alone – it will be built on data, trust and collaboration. For hospitality leaders and regulators alike, the question is no longer if this transition will happen – but how quickly we are prepared to embrace it.
