A framework to assess the challenges to food safety initiatives in an emerging economy

Emerging economies, e.g. India, China and Brazil etc., face challenges to adopt food safety (FS) practices in their supply chains. Considering industry’s operations processes, this study identifies 25 the FS initiatives involving opinions of practitioners from six major Indian producers academic experts. The are grouped into five categories, viz. organisational, government policy, global, knowledge financial. We identify best worst along with causality among them using combined Best Worst Method (BWM) ‘Decision Making Trial Evaluation Laboratory’ (DEMATEL) approaches. BWM prioritises these challenges, while DEMATEL causal relationship maps for prioritised challenges. results demonstrate that policy related key followed by financial exhibit global as cause group represent effect Mitigation inherently necessitates stakeholders’ involvement constructs emerging economies raise public awareness encouraging greater collaboration efficiency chains help achieve second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) securing everyone. offer guidance deeper insights chain managers about synergy requirements between policymakers players industry economies.