health
March 9, 2026
The Price of (Not) Consumer Trust
Every failure in the food control system is paid for not only with increased medical bills, but also with product recalls, export bans, a worsening market position, and ultimately, the loss of consumer trust in certain domestic brands and institutions.
TL;DR
- Failures in the food control system lead to financial losses, export bans, and decreased consumer trust.
- Serbia's food safety system is not fully aligned with EU standards, particularly regarding aflatoxin limits and inspection oversight.
- The country faces a high number of notifications in the EU's RASFF system for pesticides, aflatoxins, and salmonella.
- Key challenges include a lack of integrated data exchange, underfunding of inspections, and a "brain drain" of qualified personnel to the private sector.
- Despite a national laboratory, systemic issues prevent it from being a fully functional instrument for food safety and export competitiveness.
- Lack of transparency regarding product recalls further erodes consumer confidence.
- Economic consequences include inability to export certain animal products to the EU and increased public health costs.
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