A Comprehensive Review of the Ethiopian Food Quality Management System: Challenges, Innovations, and Pathways for Transformation

This comprehensive review provides an extensive analysis of Ethiopia's food quality management system, examining its historical evolution, current challenges, and future directions. The analysis reveals a system at a critical juncture, characterized by progressive policy frameworks alongside significant implementation gaps. Approximately 80-90% of food transactions occur through informal channels where regulatory oversight is minimal, hygiene practices are often inadequate, and infrastructure is lacking. Foodborne illnesses impose a substantial burden, with estimated economic costs reaching USD $723 million annually from select pathogens alone. Despite these challenges, Ethiopia has developed ambitious policy instruments, including the National Food Safety Management Plan (2025-2029) and established the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority as a lead regulatory agency. This review synthesizes evidence from over 120 sources across multiple sectors to analyze the complex interplay between governance structures, market dynamics, technological innovations, and socio-cultural factors that shape food safety outcomes. I identify critical leverage points for systemic improvement, including differentiated regulatory approaches for formal and informal sectors, strategic infrastructure investments, behavior-centered interventions, and strengthened multi-sectoral coordination through a One Health approach. The paper concludes with a detailed implementation framework for transforming Ethiopia's food safety system, emphasizing context-specific solutions, evidence-based interventions, and the need for sustained political commitment and investment to protect public health and support economic development.