Standards and Scientific Advice (SSA)

The SSA Unit oversees WHO’s work on international standard-setting in food safety and nutrition. It develops science-based risk assessments and guidelines on foodborne hazards, dietary intake, and essential nutrition actions, ensuring that WHO’s outputs are grounded in robust evidence and widely applicable. SSA manages long-standing expert committees (JECFA, JMPR, JEMRA, JEMNU) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization, supporting the development of Codex standards and national regulations. The Unit also serves as WHO’s focal point for the Standards and Trade Development Facility hosted by the World Trade Organization.

Nutrition and Food Safety Action (NFA)

The Nutrition and Food Safety Action Unit drives the implementation of proven nutrition and food safety actions to reach all populations. It develops implementation guidance, tools, and partnerships to accelerate national efforts through targeted initiatives – such as those to stop obesity, eliminate industrial trans fats, address wasting, and improve multisectoral collaboration for food safety. NFA focuses on maternal and child nutrition, acute malnutrition, fortification, and healthier and sustainable food environments. The Unit also hosts the INFOSAN network, which connects over 800 food authorities across 194 countries to strengthen global food safety collaboration and response.

Monitoring and Surveillance (MOS)

The Monitoring and Surveillance Unit plays an essential role in strengthening nutrition and food safety through data-driven decision-making. It develops robust monitoring frameworks that link policy and process indicators to nutrition and foodborne disease outcomes. MOS supports countries in enhancing programme monitoring and surveillance capacities by promoting cross-sectoral integration with other health domains – such as infectious and noncommunicable diseases(NCDs) – to increase the effectiveness and responsiveness of national health programmes. The Unit also hosts multiple nutrition and food safety databases that serve as both repositories and reference points for tracking progress on nutrition, foodborne diseases, and related NCD targets.