Food-borne illnesses remain a world-wide public heath problem, Codex food standards, codes of practice and other guidelines protect consumers from unsafe food. Codex Alimentarius helps to reach this goal by combining consumer protection with food production and trade. Codex provides reassurance to anyone anywhere that foods produced according to its codes of hygienic practice and complying with its standards are safe and nutritious and offer adequate health protection. The Codex Alimentarius Commission is a science-based, international organization. Its standards, guidelines and recommendations are recognized world-wide for their vital role in protecting the consumer and facilitation international trade. At the same time they allow food producers, processors and traders access to markets by breaking down artificial nontariff barriers to trade.