Tag Archives: Supply Chain

Risk, food safety
Food Fraud Quick Bites

The Rippling Food Safety Risks from Tariffs on the Food Industry

By Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., MPH
No Comments
Risk, food safety

Following last week’s implementation of a 25% tariff on products entering the US from Mexico and Canada, plus an additional 10% tax on imports from China, food safety professionals should prepare for ripple effects throughout the supply chain. These tariffs create interconnected challenges requiring systematic attention.

While it is inevitable that some buyers in tariffed countries will shift their purchases from U.S. suppliers to avoid the tariffs, it is just as expected that many U.S. food companies will shift their purchasing to domestic supply chains to save costs. And as those food companies move away from expensive imports, domestic growers and manufacturers may experience demand surges, creating a fundamental safety challenge where production pressures increase faster than the food safety infrastructure.

Increased Capacity Leads to Increase Risks

Processing facilities operating beyond designed capacity may compromise existing food safety management systems. Rapid workforce expansion typically outpaces adequate food safety training, increasing food safety handling risks, while quality assurance programs designed for standard production volumes become stretched if production volumes increase substantially. Companies expanding domestic production should conduct comprehensive risk assessments before increasing capacity, with particular attention to known or reasonably foreseeable hazards that may be compromised under accelerated production schedules.

Supply Chain, Traceability and Recording Keeping Concerns

The economics of high-value imported foods like avocados, mangoes, meat, and specialty cheeses will fundamentally change under the tariff structure. When legitimate import channels become prohibitively expensive, sophisticated black market operations emerge that specifically target food supply chains. These operations present unique food safety hazards, as products may be transported without temperature monitoring or verification; traceability documentation is often falsified, eliminating the ability to conduct recalls; and products may be “washed” through multiple intermediaries to obscure origin.

Food Fraud

Product substitution represents perhaps the most immediate economically motivated adulteration (EMA) risk in this environment. When high-value ingredients face substantial tariff increases, suppliers may substitute lower-value alternatives without disclosure. For example, we might see conventional produce falsely labeled as organic to command premium pricing that offsets tariff costs. Similarly, expensive oils like extra virgin olive oil might be diluted with cheaper oils while maintaining premium labeling and pricing. Food companies will need to enhance receiving processes specifically to identify potentially diverted products by implementing enhanced documentation verification, supplier approval processes, and potentially laboratory testing to verify product authenticity and safety.

Companies facing margin compression commonly target operational efficiency measures that inadvertently compromise food safety systems through extended production runs between sanitation cycles allowing biofilm formation and harborage point development, reduced preventive maintenance increasing equipment failure risks during production, and reformulation to extend shelf-life requiring additional validation.

The Canadian supply chain realignment may represent a more than temporary adaptation—it may reflect a fundamental restructuring of North American food trade that will have persistent effects even if tariffs are eventually removed. New supplier relationships will need to be established and a holistic assessment of food safety programs should be conducted as part of new supply identification and onboarding processes. Canadian companies may approach these changes as permanent structural adjustments requiring comprehensive revisions to supplier verification programs rather than as temporary workarounds. In preparing for these challenges, companies should implement a structured approach that includes:

  • Conducting systematic vulnerability assessments of supply chains to identify specific points where tariff pressures create food safety risks.
  • Developing enhanced verification processes for the specific risks of rapidly onboarded new suppliers.
  • Revalidating critical control points under new operating conditions.
  • Implementing targeted testing programs for high-risk imported products potentially subject to black market diversion.

In these uncertain times, navigating the complex intersection of international trade policy and food safety requires specialized expertise that combines regulatory knowledge, technical assessment capabilities, and strategic planning.

Recall

Even With a New Administration, Food Companies Still Need To Be Recall Ready

By Roger Hancock
No Comments
Recall

As the new administration moves to make regulatory changes, food recalls remain a constant, with donuts, potato chips, chocolate, chicken nuggets, and more being recalled in the first few months of 2025. In fact, recalls are at a five-year high. Tech-driven recall readiness will prepare food businesses and supply chains for an uncertain future.

Digital solutions are transforming recall management, helping food businesses reduce response times, improve information-sharing, and ultimately protect public health. Automation, real-time monitoring, and cloud-based platforms provide the agility needed to adapt to regulatory shifts while ensuring an effective recall process. Companies that adopt tech solutions will not only mitigate risk but also be better equipped to handle whatever policy changes lie ahead.

Communities that are resilient, even amid uncertain regulatory and political climates. Tech solutions are central to this effort. Here’s how to build a tech-driven Recall Ready Community with your supply chain:

Prioritize food safety

Strong food safety protocols should always be the foundation of your recall strategy, even as policies evolve. Using traceability software and predictive analytics helps you detect risks early and act swiftly when a recall is necessary. Ensure your team is trained and prepared, with clear procedures in place, knowing that a recall could happen at any time.

Work collaboratively with your supply chain

Align with your trading partners to improve speed and accuracy – streamlining the recall process for smoother, more effective responses. Use interoperable systems, supplier verification platforms, and cloud-based communication platforms to elevate data-sharing, transparency, and accuracy. Share expectations for action, and practice your recall process with your supply chain to reduce delays and confusion when a recall occurs.

Standardize data and processes

Standardized data sets ensure all stakeholders (e.g., regulators, trading partners, consumers, the media) have access to accurate, actionable information. Traceability and recall management platforms should use standard data sets (like GS1 standard), and your team should be trained on clean and secure data practices.

Practice in advance

Conduct recall simulations so your team knows exactly what to do in a real-world recall situation. Recall management platforms that allow mock recall simulations and VR training tools create lifelike sample scenarios ideal for effective practice with your supply chain. These simulations help identify and close gaps (like whether you have current contact information for your stakeholders), so you can reduce confusion, build confidence, and ensure preparedness for actual recalls.

Communicate clearly

Even as Federal health agencies paused communication, you can proactively alert consumers and other key stakeholders about recalls. Use automated notification systems and customer loyalty programs to quickly disseminate key messages about recalls to your customers. Provide clear, actionable messaging about what happened, why it happened, and what to do next.

Conclusion

By embracing digital solutions, food businesses can stay agile, respond quickly, and maintain consumer confidence. Don’t wait for Congressional decisions or court rulings around food safety and recalls. Be proactive to protect your brand and consumers, no matter what the future holds. Today’s tech solutions are affordable, accessible, and user-friendly. Now is the time to invest in technology that strengthens your recall strategy and builds a more resilient industry.

Building a Resilient Food Supply Chain: Lessons in Streamlining Operations

By Ainsley Lawrence
No Comments

Supply chain stability has a great deal of influence over food safety and security across global markets. When food networks experience disruptions, the consequences affect production, distribution, storage conditions, and consumer well-being. Recent events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have demonstrated the urgency of developing adaptable food supply systems that maintain strict safety standards under pressure.

Modern food supply chains must balance operational excellence with strategic planning to respond to market shifts and evolving safety requirements. An ideal approach integrates vendor partnerships, technological solutions, and risk management practices to create robust networks that protect business value and public health. Successful food supply networks blend time-tested operational practices with smart innovation, maintaining quality standards through every market shift and challenge.

Streamlining Operations for Efficiency

Food supply networks depend on seamless coordination between multiple moving parts, from initial production to final delivery. Each step in the process — from cold storage management to transportation scheduling — requires precise timing and careful quality control. Optimizing these operations demands attention to two critical areas: building strong vendor partnerships and integrating smart technology solutions.

These core elements create reliable, efficient systems that maintain food safety while reducing operational costs. Success begins with cultivating strong partnerships throughout the vendor network and amplifying these relationships through strategic technology adoption. Striking this balance requires careful attention to supplier relationships and smart implementation of digital monitoring tools.

Building Strong Vendor Networks

Strong vendor relationships start with clear performance standards and consistent communication practices. Regular quality assessments and collaborative planning sessions help create lasting partnerships built on mutual success. These relationships become especially valuable during supply chain challenges when quick responses and flexible solutions matter most.

Effective vendor invoice processing reduces costs through automated systems and standardized procedures. This streamlined approach eliminates common error sources while freeing staff to prioritize strategic improvements. Well-managed vendor documentation also supports compliance efforts by maintaining clear records of all transactions and quality verifications.

Technology Integration for Safety and Efficiency

Advanced digital systems monitor food safety throughout storage and transportation, offering precise control over environmental conditions and product tracking. Modern IoT-driven sensor networks provide continuous updates on temperature, humidity, and other critical factors that affect food quality. These systems also utilize AI technology to analyze and formulate rapid responses to potential issues before they affect product safety.

Digital platforms also improve communication across the supply chain, connecting vendors, transporters, and facility managers through unified data systems. Real-time updates and automated alerts help maintain product integrity while reducing waste. Supply chain managers use this precise, real-time data to reinforce both immediate decisions and strategic planning.

Risk Mitigation and Flexibility in the Supply Chain

Food distribution networks face persistent challenges from multiple sources. Seasonal storms disrupt transportation routes, equipment failures compromise cold storage systems, and sudden demand spikes strain production capacity. Each type of disruption presents unique challenges to food safety and quality control, requiring specific strategies and response protocols.

Effective risk management combines two essential capabilities: systematic vulnerability assessment and operational flexibility. Organizations must develop methods to spot potential problems before affecting product quality. They then need adaptable systems that can quickly adjust to changing conditions without compromising safety standards.

Identifying and Addressing Vulnerabilities

Effective risk prevention begins with regular assessment of potential weak points. Transportation delays, equipment malfunctions, and storage complications can all threaten product integrity. Maintaining food safety during disruptions requires systematic monitoring and clear response protocols. Organizations particularly benefit from detailed contingency plans that anticipate various scenarios and outline specific actions for each situation.

Quality control teams must stay alert to subtle indicators that might signal developing problems. This vigilance includes monitoring supplier performance metrics, tracking delivery patterns, and analyzing temperature control data. Early detection of potential issues allows swift intervention before minor concerns escalate into significant disruptions.

Building Adaptable Systems

Flexible distribution networks accommodate sudden changes without sacrificing safety standards or operational efficiency. This adaptability stems from strategic redundancy in critical areas, including backup supplier relationships and alternative transportation routes. Cross-trained staff members provide additional flexibility, allowing quick reallocation of resources when specific areas need extra support.

Clear communication channels prove essential during periods of adjustment. Team members at every level need accurate, current information about changing conditions and modified procedures. Staff training drills sharpen emergency response skills and build team confidence. Well-prepared personnel protect food quality standards while smoothly executing needed process adjustments.

Branding and Consumer Trust in Food Safety

Consumer confidence grows from consistent safety practices paired with open communication. Food producers and distributors sharing detailed information about quality control measures build lasting market relationships. Today’s consumers look beyond basic safety claims — they want to understand specific handling procedures, storage protocols, and quality certifications. This heightened interest in food safety creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue with customers about quality assurance practices.

Meeting these expectations takes a coordinated approach that spans internal operations and external communications. Organizations can build consumer trust by creating clear, accessible messages about safety standards and fostering active participation in safety practices across all stakeholder groups. From employee training programs to consumer education initiatives, each element of safety communication plays a vital role in building and maintaining market confidence.

Communicating Safety Commitments

Clear messaging about food safety practices builds credibility with consumers and retail partners. Documentation of safety protocols, quality certifications, and handling procedures demonstrates dedication to product quality. Promotional products highlight your brand values while educating consumers about specific safety measures, from temperature monitoring to contamination prevention. If possible, tailor your materials to match the relationship in question.

Safety communication involves more than standard product packaging and labels. Websites, social media, and print materials collaborate to share detailed quality control processes and safety innovations. Using multiple communication methods helps consumers find accurate safety information wherever they look. Generally speaking, it’s better to have more information available than you need than to be too opaque.

Engaging Stakeholders in Safety Culture

Food safety excellence starts in warehouses and continues through every delivery route. Quality control teams conduct hands-on training sessions, from temperature monitoring to contamination prevention, to simulate real-world challenges. Staff members contribute valuable insights through structured feedback programs, often identifying practical improvements to daily operations. Employee recognition programs celebrate exceptional safety practices, spurring healthy competition and innovative approaches to quality control.

Safety education has far-reaching effects throughout the distribution network. Distribution centers conduct specialized training sessions for retail partners, teaching proper handling techniques for various food categories. Store staff learn optimal storage methods for different products and then pass this knowledge to customers through clear guidelines and practical tips. Local food safety workshops bring together warehouse teams, retail staff, and consumers, creating collaborative learning environments.

Final Thoughts

Strong food supply networks emerge from careful attention to three core elements: operational precision, risk readiness, and stakeholder engagement. Organizations that excel at vendor management while integrating advanced monitoring systems create reliable distribution channels that withstand market pressures. Clear safety protocols and quick-response capabilities maintain food quality through unexpected challenges.

Safety-focused communication strengthens every link in the food supply chain. Informed employees can spot potential issues early, trained vendors can follow precise handling procedures, and educated consumers can make smarter storage decisions. When each participant understands their role in maintaining food safety, the entire system benefits through consistent quality, reduced waste, and increased market confidence.

Food Safety Technology Can Protect Businesses from Recalls and Other Risks

By Colin Rose, Patricia Baxter
No Comments

Recalls represent one of the largest threats to a food company’s profitability and reputation. In recent years, technology solutions such as cloud-based software have been introduced to better prepare and safeguard businesses.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, more than 300 food products were recalled last year, representing a significant 31% increase compared with 2022. The reasons behind recalls vary and include food containing contaminated items such as metal or plastic, exposure to pathogens and undeclared allergens on product labels. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that each year, roughly one in six Americans (or 48 million people) gets sick from foodborne diseases. Recalls represent one of the largest threats to a food company’s profitability and reputation. In recent years, technology solutions such as cloud-based software have been introduced to better prepare and safeguard businesses.

Supply Chain Connectivity

Despite advances in technology, many food manufacturers and processors still rely on manual tools and management across their supply chains. Manual systems can result in major issues during a crisis, including errors in inputting or updating data and miscommunication, such as being unable to quickly reach multiple vendors and suppliers at a given time.

Proper and comprehensive supply chain management is critical to food safety. In the instance of a recall, businesses must be able to quickly activate their recall management plan, disseminating important information both up and down the supply chain while documenting to meet certification and regulatory requirements. It’s key that all suppliers – local, national and international – demonstrate that they are compliant with all relevant food and market regulations. Product source information must also be tracked and searchable in records.

Robust and proactive document control can help an organization avoid recalls by quickly identifying risky suppliers or non-compliant ingredients.

Innovative Solutions Support Recalls

Several new technologies are being employed to support greater traceability and transparency across the food supply chain. With cybersecurity attacks now being a risk that can result in product recalls, more companies are investing in information security solutions to further protect their data. Certifications to standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, which has requirements for establishing, managing and maintaining an information security management system help businesses to demonstrate that they follow an international standard for managing security controls. This can provide an added level of assurance that cybersecurity risks have been identified and safeguarded.

Some companies are now using RFID to tag and track food items. QR codes and bar codes can be scanned on easily accessible devices such as smartphones and tablets, providing instant access to records to ensure traceability.

Cloud-based software also allows companies to manage complex and critical data more confidently. NSF TraQtion® is a new software solution that directs suppliers to an online portal to upload documents, complete questionnaires and communicate. Beyond supplier data, cloud-based software can also be used for recipe management and storage, tracking complaints, label compliance and setting company-wide standards. By simplifying and digitizing data, documents and records collection, leaders can instantly access information during audits and assessments, allowing for quick delivery when program documentation is requested or required.

If not properly and swiftly handled, a recall or outbreak can cost a business tens of thousands of dollars or more. By using cloud-based technology to put an easily accessible and implementable risk management plan in place, businesses can be better prepared for a food safety incident. Overall, software can minimize back-and-forth messaging, urgent data requests, meetings and calls by digitizing and streamlining both communication and documentation.

How to Select the Right Tech Solutions

When preparing for a potential recall, it’s important to be proactive. Start with identifying the pain points in the organization’s risk management plan and then see if there are tools that can be used to strengthen the plan and address its weaknesses. While some tools may require greater investment, this can pay off in the long run when you consider how detrimental recalls can be.

As we look at recalls and technology solutions, we must acknowledge that the requirement for full compliance to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 204 rule is January 20, 2026. For those applicable, technology will play a major role in the FDA’s recordkeeping requirements and 24-hour turnaround of an electronic, sortable spreadsheet for traceability of products. In most cases, with larger-scale operations, this can only happen with the utilization of new and emerging software.

The goal of technology implementation is to create a more sustainable food system. With earlier identification and traceability of adulterated products, the removal and retrieval process from commerce will be faster and, in turn, should result in a decrease of incidents reducing illness and potential deaths.

Digital solutions will also help to fill the gaps for root cause investigations, thus more efficiently allowing for enhanced preventative actions and training to avoid recurrence. While onboarding of new technology can sometimes be costly, over time, the ROI of reduced recalls and product losses can increase revenue gains and negate the initial investment.

Food is a global commodity, and advancing technology and innovations in system processes can help move the supply chain forward in delivering safe, quality consumable products around the world. Now is the time to lead the industry forward for a safer, more sustainable future for both companies and consumers. We must invest in technology solutions within our food supply chain to continue advancing human and planet health.

David Hatch

Food Safety Risk Assessments are “Data Hungry”

By David Hatch
No Comments
David Hatch

This past year, I was invited to participate in a risk assessment workshop led by a third-party consultant at a food safety event. During my 30+ year career, I have been through many different types of risk assessments across several industry segments. I have been a participant seeking to define and address risk at my own organization, as well as a consultant helping my clients perform their own risk assessments. Each time I experienced a risk assessment exercise, I learned something new, and this time was no different. The key learning for me in this case is encapsulated in the title of this blog: Food Safety Risk Assessments are “Data Hungry.”

What Does This Mean?

As we went through the workshop exercise, we explored the elements of risk. Specifically, risk is defined as a combination of three factors: Is something POSSIBLE, how PROBABLE is it to occur, and what is the potential SEVERITY if it were to occur?

  • The first element is a yes or no question. Anything that can possibly happen should be included in the assessment.
  • The second element, probability, is measured on a scale. In our exercise, we assigned probability to a scale of 1–5 (least to most probable). A subset of probability is the expected frequency. This is a tricky one. If something has been occurring over time, then the frequency is known and can be easily factored into the probability scale. If it is a newly discovered issue, then “expected frequency” becomes an exercise in guesswork — one that must be refined over time. In our exercise, frequency was measured on a scale of 1–5 (least to most frequent).
  • For the third element, severity, we also used a 1–5 scale (least to most severe).

The room then proceeded to use these elements and measurement techniques to assess risk across 10 different scenarios. These included descriptions of foodborne illness, food safety testing outcomes, discovery of allergens, labelling mishaps, chemical contamination, food fraud, supply chain disruptions, and other risks.

The risk assessment included a worksheet laid out as a table, where each scenario could be prioritized and scored according to the risk measurement elements (Figure 1).

Example Risk Scoring Table]
Figure 1: Example Risk Scoring Table

The room was divided into three teams, and each was asked to prioritize the various scenarios in order of highest to lowest risk. Each group completed this task, and here is where things got interesting — each team had different results!

As shown in the example table, a lower priority may yield a risk score above that of something that was originally considered a higher priority. Each team’s tables looked significantly different from the others. To be clear, these were not strangers performing the exercise with no knowledge of each other’s priorities. In fact, the three teams comprised the global food safety leadership of one company — yet each team seemed to have very different ideas on risk prioritization. This unexpected result caused some lively discussion; meanwhile, the consultant leading the exercise was the only one in the room who was not surprised at all by the results. Here’s why:

There was one more factor to consider — one that was on the minds of each team, but not openly expressed as a factor for prioritizing risk: The TYPE of risk.

The consultant then asked the room to describe what type of risk they were thinking about from the following four categories:

  • Public Health
  • Reputation
  • Regulatory
  • Business Operations

The room concluded that the type of risk had a significant impact on how the risk was originally prioritized. Each team had set out their prioritization criteria based on a preconceived risk category, and it turned out that each team’s selected category was different. Depending on which of the four risk types or objectives was dominant, a different prioritization and risk scoring resulted.

This is where the “data hungry” concept factors in. The final analysis revealed that a risk scoring exercise conducted in this manner is capable of yielding only a “perceived risk” score. While perception is a good start, an actionable risk assessment should be based on actual outcomes and experiences. The availability of real-world data, collected over time, has a dramatic impact on validating perceptions.

For example, the availability of pathogen testing diagnostic data, along with the probability, frequency, and likeliness of occurrences, would allow a risk assessment score to be based on a historical trend, rather than a perceived level of frequency and probability. A risk assessment exercise would be informed by the data, and a score of 1–5 could be applied with far more confidence.

Data, in the words of one of the participants, “removes the guesswork and assumptions” within a risk assessment. I learned that data is the necessary element to transform risk perception into risk knowledge. While it is useful to perform a risk assessment based on perceived scoring and prioritization, it is essential that a risk assessment be validated with real data.

Prasant Prusty and Arundhathy Shabu

Foreign Material Contamination: Challenges and Management of Risks

By Arundhathy Shabu, Prasant Prusty
No Comments
Prasant Prusty and Arundhathy Shabu

Do you recollect the recall of nearly 250,000 pounds of a frozen chicken strips entree product due to a consumer discovering a piece of plastic in one of the chicken pieces, as announced by the USDA FSIS on September 2nd, 2023? Although food manufacturing facilities often implement diligent foreign material contaminant detection and control protocols, recalls due to foreign materials continue to happen. Therefore, it is critical for food businesses to understand the potential routes for foreign material contamination, analyze the challenges they bring, and employ a comprehensive approach to foreign material control and management, utilizing efficient methods to ensure consumer safety.

Origins of Foreign Material Contamination

The extraneous materials found in the food supply are defined by the FDA’s Food Defect Levels Handbook as “any foreign matter in a product associated with objectionable conditions or practices in production, storage, or distribution, including objectionable matter contributed by insects, rodents, and birds; decomposed material; and miscellaneous matter such as sand, soil, glass, rust, or other foreign substances.”

The origins of foreign substances found in food are commonly classified into five categories:

  • Unintentional introduction from the field (stones, metal, insects, unwanted plant material like thorns or wood, soil, or small animals).
  • Accidental inception during processing and handling (bone, glass, metal, wood, nuts, bolts, screening, cloth, grease, paint chips, rust, and similar items).
  • Substances that enter the food during distribution (insects, metals, soil, or stones).
  • Deliberate inclusion of materials in food (employee sabotage).
  • Miscellaneous materials, such as struvite and other similar substances.

Not all foreign materials make a food item unsafe, but they all can have a profound effect on consumer satisfaction, which can result in negative publicity and decreased sales and regulatory compliance.

Foreign Object Contamination Risks and Challenges

Foreign material contamination in the food supply chain presents significant risks including:

Consumer Health Risks. Consuming contaminated food can lead to injuries such as broken teeth, choking, internal injuries, or illness if the foreign material carries pathogens. These incidents can result in severe health consequences, including hospitalization or even death, depending on the nature of the contaminant and the sensitivity of the consumer.

Regulatory Compliance. Regulations enforced by governmental agencies require strict adherence to food safety standards, including contamination prevention measures. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to fines, legal penalties, product recalls, and even business closure.

Supply Chain Disruption. Contamination incidents can disrupt the flow of products through the supply chain, leading to delays, shortages, and increased operational costs. These disruptions can ripple through the entire industry, affecting a multitude of stakeholders.

Damage to Brand Value. Foreign material contamination incidents can tarnish a company’s reputation and erode consumer trust. News of contaminated products spreads rapidly through traditional and social media channels, leading to negative publicity and brand damage.

Financial Losses. The costs associated with product recalls, legal settlements, and loss of sales revenue can be significant and have long-term implications for profitability and sustainability.

Despite understanding the significant risks associated with foreign object contamination, these events continue to occur. That is because there are significant challenges in preventing and detecting foreign materials in food products, such as:

Supply Chain Complexity. The modern food supply chain is highly interconnected, involving numerous stakeholders, including farmers, processors, distributors, retailers, and consumers. Each step in the supply chain opens doors for contamination, making it challenging to trace the source of foreign materials accurately.

Implementation of Preventive Measures. Establishing effective preventive measures to mitigate the risk of foreign material contamination requires collaboration, investment, and ongoing vigilance. Verification of the efficacy of the employed preventive actions is often overlooked, which may lead to recurring foreign material presence.

Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated effort across the entire supply chain, with a focus on proactive risk management, quality assurance, and continuous improvement. The fundamental point remains that foreign substances should not be present in food items and hence, processors must create, record, execute, and sustain foreign material control programs to tackle these challenges and guarantee the exclusion of such materials from both their products and procedures.

Prevention Strategies

A foreign material management program is a protocol established to avert, identify, and investigate occurrences of foreign impurities within any food processing or manufacturing facility. An effective foreign material control program should adopt a holistic framework, integrating components that assess potential risks throughout the supply chain and establish appropriate preventive and corrective measures against foreign contamination. Following are the three key components to an effective program.

  1. Risk Assessment & Management in Farming

Food manufacturers and ingredient producers, including farmers and agronomists, must understand the specific risks and proper handling procedures of their ingredients to ensure food safety. Risk assessment in agriculture involves identifying hazards and vulnerabilities that could introduce foreign materials throughout the farming process, from planting to post-harvest handling.

Examples of hazards include contaminated water or soil, improper pesticide handling, inadequate pest control, and poor sanitation practices. Risk management involves scrutinizing farming operations to eliminate points of entry for foreign materials. Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are crucial for controlling food safety hazards and are categorized into eleven segments, covering various aspects of farming practices. Compliance with GAP standards helps minimize the risk of contamination throughout the production process.

  1. Risk Assessment & Management in Receiving, Storage, and Transportation

In the context of receiving, storage, and transportation, the identification of potential sources of contamination is essential, with bulk shipments presenting significant challenges due to their susceptibility to foreign material introduction. Hazards during these stages can arise from various factors, including handling and environmental conditions.

Supplier approval programs serve to both ensure product safety and mitigate foreign material contamination risks. These programs primarily involve assessing suppliers’ food safety measures, including protocols for food handling and foreign object detection. Buyers can enforce measures such as sieving, screening, or employing metal detectors or X-ray machines before packaging, which should be specified in purchasing agreements. Effective risk management strategies involve thorough supplier verification and monitoring processes to ensure adherence to quality standards and practices. Intervention strategies, such as specific protocols for bulk deliveries, and communication with suppliers are required to prevent and address contamination issues promptly.

  1. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

Good Manufacturing Processes are defined by regulatory agencies and developed to ensure that products are consistently produced following set quality standards. They cover multiple aspects of company operations that may allow for the introduction of foreign materials including:

Personnel. GMP dictates policies regarding attire and personal items for personnel involved in food processing, emphasizing the importance of verification programs to ensure the detectability of items within the processing environment.

Premises. Ensuring the proper condition and maintenance of the physical facility minimizes the risk of foreign material contamination. This includes regular upkeep and designated areas of operation to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. Effective waste management systems are also necessary to eliminate potential breeding grounds for contaminants.

Equipment Designing and Utensils. Equipment and utensils must be designed with materials resistant to shattering or splintering that feature smooth, non-porous surfaces for easy cleaning. Regular inspection and maintenance protocols are required to ensure equipment integrity and minimize the risk of foreign material contamination.

Preventive Maintenance. Preventive maintenance programs address equipment malfunctions before they pose a risk of contamination, with scheduled tasks tailored to the usage lifespan of different components. Timely replacement of parts is important to prevent failures that could compromise product safety.

Wood Control. Implementing a pallet management program helps prevent contamination from wooden pallets.

Glass and Brittle Plastic Controls. Food manufacturers are required to have a dedicated program for managing glass and brittle plastic as part of their GMP. This begins with establishing a policy prohibiting the presence or use of glass or ceramic objects in food processing areas or warehouses. A comprehensive inventory of all glass and brittle plastic items in food storage or handling areas, including their locations and protective measures, must be maintained.

Sanitation and Validation. Thorough cleaning and disinfection procedures are integral to maintaining sanitation standards, with validation processes to ensure the effectiveness of cleaning protocols. Comprehensive testing and verification are necessary and required to confirm the absence of contaminants.

Detection and Removal with Ongoing Surveillance. Various detection and removal methods, including sieves, electronic sorting, and centrifugation, can be employed to identify and eliminate foreign materials during processing. Collaboration with suppliers is key to optimizing detection equipment configurations and calibration, ensuring the removal of contaminants throughout the production process.

Innovative Approaches for Foreign Material Control

With technological advancements, innovative approaches have emerged to enhance foreign material detection and prevention processes. One such approach involves the use of advanced imaging technologies, such as X-ray inspection systems and metal detectors, which can identify foreign objects within food products. These systems utilize sophisticated algorithms to distinguish between desired food components and foreign materials, enabling manufacturers to detect contaminants with high precision. For example, X-ray inspection systems can detect metal, glass, plastic, and other dense foreign materials, while metal detectors are effective in identifying metallic contaminants.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms has revolutionized foreign material control in the food industry. AI-powered systems can analyze vast amounts of data in real time to identify patterns and anomalies associated with foreign material contamination. This enables proactive detection and prevention measures, reducing the risk of foreign material incidents and product recalls.

For instance, AI algorithms can continuously monitor production lines for deviations from normal operating conditions and trigger alerts when potential contaminants are detected. Additionally, advancements in sensor technology, such as hyperspectral imaging and laser-based systems, offer enhanced sensitivity and specificity in detecting foreign materials, further improving food safety standards. Overall, these innovative approaches underscore the importance of leveraging technology to enhance foreign material control and uphold the highest standards of food safety in the industry.

By building and maintaining competent foreign material contamination management systems and incorporating new technologies, companies can safeguard product quality, protect consumers, and preserve brand reputation.

Paul Damaren

The New Era of Quality Management Solutions

By Paul Damaren
No Comments
Paul Damaren

Food businesses must prioritize safety and quality by taking every known precaution to protect their foods, customers, employees, and businesses. The most effective way for food brands to ensure safety, quality, and compliance is to use technology to elevate their quality management programs.

Technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and machine learning, can make food significantly safer by improving food safety protocols, quality control, compliance, and supply chain management.

The Importance of Quality Management

Whether you’re a processor, manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other food business, you must ensure that your safety and quality practices are consistent and properly maintained. And you must confirm that all employees follow gold standard safety protocols to minimize risks and maximize safety. But that isn’t enough on its own. You must also manage your entire supply chain to be certain that foods are safe and proper protocols are followed through every step of the journey.

Businesses need to maintain high-quality standards while also scaling production, introducing new products, providing exceptional customer service, and meeting evolving consumer demands. That’s no small feat! Fortunately, several tech tools now exist that can help food brands elevate their quality management programs and safety efforts.

Quality Management Tools Have Improved Dramatically

The way that organizations manage their food safety and quality programs has improved significantly over the years. Savvy food businesses have ditched their manual paper systems due to drawbacks such as being unable to provide real-time, integrated data across an enterprise. Manual systems also come with compliance risks, as employees could do sloppy or incomplete work on inspections, audits, and safety checks — or skip them altogether. Tech solutions offer more efficient and accurate ways to conduct and track quality management programs.

Food businesses should rely on digital quality management solutions that:

  • Are made specifically for the food sector, addressing food brands’ unique challenges and needs.
  • Are comprehensive, offering audit management, compliance tracking, risk assessment, supplier quality management, and quality control in one easy-to-use solution.
  • Include mobile auditing features to enhance on-site inspection efficiency, which is crucial for maintaining quality in fast-paced environments.
  • Feature compliance and reporting capabilities to ensure adherence to the latest regulatory requirements.
  • Allow brands to manage their suppliers, ensuring everyone is committed to the highest safety and quality standards, as any weak link in the supply chain can jeopardize the integrity of the food, leaving end-users vulnerable.

Technologies To Elevate Quality Programs

The integration of technology in the food sector has been exciting, and we have learned much about which technologies offer the greatest benefit. Some of the most valuable solutions include:

  • Busy food brands can leverage automation to reduce administrative burdens and time-consuming tasks and improve efficiency, consistency, accuracy, and productivity.
  • AI and machine learning. These solutions offer predictive maintenance of equipment, quality control, and yield optimization, and give business owners critical, real-time data to drive more informed decision-making. Additionally, machine learning algorithms can predict food safety risks based on various parameters, such as storage conditions and handling.
  • IoT devices monitor safety and quality parameters, including temperature, humidity, and vibration to identify and either resolve or alert companies to safety and quality risks. IoT provides constant feedback, so food brands can quickly prevent (or remediate) safety breaches and quality degradation.
  • Blockchain can provide food authentication through increased transparency and enhanced food traceability. Food brands can leverage blockchain technology to ensure the food they’re getting is safe, authentic, and high-quality. Blockchain can trace food back to its source to prevent food fraud, increase food safety, and improve recalls in the event of a safety breach.

A New Era of Food Safety & Quality Software

As these technologies have made their way into the food industry, we are seeing continuous improvement in quality management tools, including:

  • More comprehensive functions. When multiple functions are packaged together in a single intuitive solution, it allows food brands to streamline their quality management processes, aligning with industry-specific requirements.
  • More robust compliance management. Additional compliance management features help brands better understand ever-evolving regulations and adhere to stringent safety standards. And that’s reassuring for customers and end-users, including the retailers that sell the products, the restaurants that serve them, and the consumers that eat them.
  • Focus on supply chain management. Supply chain management has seen a technological overhaul around quality assurance, providing more transparency and traceability from farm to fork. Focusing on every point across the supply chain is crucial in an industry where the quality of the end product is directly influenced by the quality of the sourced materials.
  • Mobile auditing. Mobile auditing solutions within quality monitoring programs allow organizations to facilitate real-time data collection and reporting, a critical factor for onsite inspections in food production, processing, manufacturing, and retail environments.
  • Accessible for all. As tech solutions have become more affordable, accessible, scalable, and user-friendly, they have become more attainable for food businesses of all sizes and budgets. While some brands may worry that digital quality management solutions require significant investment, think of the ROI you’ll receive by avoiding brand damaging and expensive safety and quality breaches.

Digital quality management solutions have become essential for every food business, allowing brands to avoid costly, damaging breaches. Food businesses would be wise to adopt and embrace this new era of quality management solutions to maximize safety, minimize risks, and demonstrate their commitment to quality and compliance.

Don't Eat Poop logo
Food Safety Think Tank

Food Safety Is About Trust and Relationships

By Food Safety Tech Staff
No Comments
Don't Eat Poop logo

“It’s not what we know that worries me. It’s what we don’t know,” said Jorge Hernandez, VP of Quality Assurance at The Wendy’s Company. He spoke with Matt Regusci and Francine Shaw, co-hosts of the “Don’t Eat Poop” podcast during the 2023 Food Safety Consortium to discuss his career, and how to make a difference as a food safety professional.

Hernandez began his career as a local and then state food inspector in Illinois before moving to U.S. Foods and then Wendy’s. Looking back on his early career, he noted that the most important thing he learned as an inspector is that people want to do the right thing, and if you take the time to explain the problem and offer solutions, they are willing to learn and will become compliant with the rules.

English is not Hernandez’s first language, which has helped him with his communication. “As I was learning English, I learned that it’s not what you say, but how they receive it,” he said. “So I’m very sensitive to ‘Are they understanding what I’m saying and my words?’ If not, I stop and listen to them and their feedback to make sure my message got through. If you just walk away, you don’t know if they got it or not.”

The need to develop relationships that extend beyond the transactional was a key message, particularly when it comes to suppliers. “To me a supplier is a partnership. How can I make them better and how can they make us better?” said Hernandez. “If it’s all about 5 cents here or 10 cents there, that drives a suppler to go around you or start doing things [you don’t want]. I’m committed to working with them to make them better, faster, more efficient, whatever it needs to be.”

Regusci and Shaw asked Hernandez to share the biggest changes he’s seen in the industry since he started his career. Technological advances were No. 1. “Technology has taken us a lot farther and moved faster than I thought. Now we’re looking at the DNA of bacteria and we can identify it and follow an outbreak to levels we never thought possible,” said Hernandez. “But also, there are practices we thought were safe and now we’re discovering, not necessarily. Look at listeria. While technology has helped us see more, there are a lot of risks that our systems are not able to handle, and we need to address that.”

In terms of future risks to the food supply, the evolutionary nature of bacteria and changes in weather are what keep him up at night. “Bacteria have been evolving and they will evolve to the point that our sanitizers and processes will not be effective. Also, the weather is changing; things are warmer. And in the U.S., we are seeing more outbreaks from bacteria that were more common in warmer climates,” he said. “So we need to be smart enough to know our technology and our food safety systems, but also flexible enough to prepare for what is coming next.”

When asked what he wished—as a former inspector—that food inspectors and regulators understood about the industry, he shared that, “People who are from outside the industry don’t acknowledge as much as they could or should that everyone is trying to do the right thing. They just need to understand the why and how.”

At the close of each episode, Shaw asks, “What does trust mean to you?”

“Trust means everything,”, said Hernandez. “In order for me to develop a relationship with a supplier, I need to trust them and they need to trust me. When I hire a new employee, I need to trust that they are going to do their job and they need to trust that I have their best interests at heart and that we as a company are going to take care of them and give them a career. Trust is essential to everything we do.”

Listen to the full episode here:

 

 

 

Prasant Prusty and Arundhathy Shabu

Know Your Supplier for Better Ingredient Hazard Control and Risk Mitigation

By Arundhathy Shabu, Prasant Prusty
No Comments
Prasant Prusty and Arundhathy Shabu

In 2022, more than 80% of businesses encountered at least one major supply chain disruption, while half experienced three or more, and supply chain disruption is anticipated to continue. Supplier management systems are instrumental in minimizing the frequency of disruptions through proactive risk assessment, streamlined communication and robust contingency planning, allowing organizations to maintain operational resilience and continuity in the face of unforeseen challenges. One of the key components of a supplier management system is the supplier qualification program.

A supplier qualification program helps ensure that suppliers adhere to stringent standards and criteria, effectively controlling hazards and mitigating risks tied to subpar product quality, unreliable deliveries and lack of regulatory compliance. These programs foster consistency, reliability and excellence across the entire supply chain by meticulously evaluating and approving suppliers. In this article, we look at some prominent challenges in setting up supplier qualification systems, key facets of supplier management and the future of modern procurement.

Current Challenges in Supplier Qualification Models

In today’s rapidly progressing world, industries operate within a globalized framework, intertwining trade and technology to produce an unprecedented level of connectivity and interdependence that transcends geographical limitations through a harmonious exchange of goods, services and ideas across borders. This global network, however, poses challenges to food processors and distributors, as it requires them to identify and track large numbers of suppliers from greater distances. As a result, there is a new imperative for industries to be able to qualify suppliers that align with their supplier qualification goals on a global scale.

Following are some of the key considerations and challenges facing food companies:

Supply Chain Disruptions. Factors such as natural disasters, global pandemics and escalation of geopolitical tensions may lead to restricted access to vital materials or the closure of significant trade routes, resulting in supply chain disruptions that create limitations, making it difficult to evaluate the credibility of the suppliers.

Supplier Diversity. Supplier diversity refers to actively engaging suppliers owned and operated by individuals from underrepresented groups, such as women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities, with the goal of promoting economic opportunities and cultivating inclusivity in the supply chain. It can present challenges for the supplier qualification process due to the limited pool of qualified diverse suppliers, competitive pricing, bias or skepticism, and equal support for all suppliers.

Regulatory Compliance. Organizations must navigate a complex terrain of regulations and standards that differ across industries and regions to achieve regulatory compliance within supplier qualification models. Compliance obligations encompass various areas, including labor practices, environmental regulations, data privacy and product safety. The continuous challenge lies in adapting qualification models that encompass evolving compliance standards and diligently observing supplier compliance on an ongoing basis.

Supplier Information. The multiple challenges related to supplier data management include the use of different technologies, procedural variations, employee training gaps in handling supplier information, monitoring difficulties, communication limitations and averting risks, such as intellectual property infringement and regulatory and legal compliance issues. Supply managers confront the dual challenge of meeting the growing demand for sharing sensitive data while protecting that data and ensuring a secure system for managing and updating supplier information.

Optimizing Supplier Performance. Once suppliers are qualified, supplier performance management is necessary to ensure compliance and maintain quality standards. There is often a lack of standardization in how suppliers are evaluated, making it tedious to define appropriate performance metrics, collect relevant data and consistently analyze supplier performance. This also makes it challenging to enable objective evaluation, facilitate ongoing supplier supervision and identify which suppliers are underperforming.

Communication & Collaboration. Effective communication is a reciprocal process that requires regular contact and engagement with suppliers at every project stage. Procurement professionals often overlook the importance of building strong supplier relationships and encouraging open lines of communication, which is essential for cultivating sustainable and successful supplier qualification models.

Data Management & Visibility. Controlling data use and distribution becomes challenging when information is dispersed across multiple supplier locations or sub-tiers of the supply base. Consequently, accessing and maintaining a single source of truth regarding supplier information, along with data accuracy, integrity and security is an important, though complex, need.

Scalability. For companies operating in varied markets and dealing with a large number of suppliers, the scalability of their suppliers is critical. A supplier who cannot scale production in response to the buyer’s production cycles and maintain corresponding quality control measures can become a challenge for the buyer.

The Key Elements of Supplier Pre-Qualification

Supplier pre-qualification is a formal process of pre-screening and assessing potential suppliers against a predetermined set of criteria to ensure they have the baseline qualifications to provide a service or product before being accepted as a customer’s supplier and initiating procurement procedures. Only suppliers who meet established criteria are invited to tender. The process also helps in evaluating financial stability, mitigating supply chain risks, keeping an eye on environmental credentials, ensuring sustainability practices and complying with diverse regulations and quality standards.

To adequately pre-qualify a supplier, buyers must consider the following:

Supplier Evaluation Criteria. Organizations must establish benchmarks or specific requirements that suppliers must meet to qualify for participation. These criteria can vary depending on the nature of the procurement, but they commonly include factors such as experience, technical capabilities, financial resources, legal compliance, quality management systems and past performance.

Supplier Documentation and Information. Suppliers must submit documentation and information that provide evidence of their qualifications. These may include company profiles, financial statements, licenses and certifications, regulatory documents, references, product samples and other relevant information demonstrating their ability to meet the organization’s needs.

Supplier Auditing. Submitted documentation and information should be reviewed through supplier auditing as part of pre-assessment or continuous evaluation procedures to assess the suitability of each supplier. This evaluation may involve a review of financial records, conducting site visits, interviewing key personnel and analyzing past performance records. The goal is to gather as much information as possible to determine the supplier’s capabilities, trustworthiness and overall suitability for the procurement.

Risk Assessment. As part of the pre-qualification process, organizations often conduct risk assessments to evaluate the potential risks of engaging each supplier. This assessment may consider factors such as financial risks, legal compliance risks, operational risks and reputational risks. The purpose is to identify and mitigate potential risks of working with a particular supplier.

Supplier Onboarding. Based on the evaluation, the organization shortlists suppliers that meet the predetermined criteria and have demonstrated the necessary capabilities. These suppliers are considered eligible to participate in the subsequent procurement process and are onboarded.

Emergency Supplier Approval. There must be a provision to address and handle emergency supplier qualification in situations where there is the absence of an established supplier approval process. This step should propose workaround measures or solutions that can be implemented to minimize or mitigate risks and manage critical supply requirements.

Supplier Performance Monitoring. The pre-qualification process may also involve monitoring the performance of existing suppliers to ensure they continue to meet the organization’s requirements and standards. This ongoing evaluation helps maintain a pool of qualified and reputable suppliers for future procurement needs.

How Tech-Enabled Solutions Optimize Supplier Management

As the age of modern procurement practices commences, tech-enabled supplier management solutions and digital software will play an increasingly pivotal part in supplier qualification systems. Supplier pre-qualification and performance assessment through digital processes and forms offer numerous advantages to businesses, including:

Efficiency and Time Savings. By automating manual tasks such as documentation collection, verification and approval, the entire supplier management process, from onboarding to continuous monitoring of suppliers, can be simplified and expedited. Digital features such as supplier performance tracking, compliance monitoring and alerts for contract renewals or expirations drive business continuity. It further streamlines organizing and analyzing supplier data, lowering administrative burdens related to paperwork collection, enabling faster decision-making and helping to nurture a culture of safety with significant cost benefits as well.

Enhanced Data Accuracy. Digitizing supplier qualification models can help organizations maintain more reliable supplier information and reduce the risk of incorrect or outdated data by minimizing human error and ensuring accurate and consistent data entry. Implementing stable data management systems and technologies, such as supplier management software, can also aid in identifying and managing supplier risks through early identification of issues and timely mitigation to minimize supply chain disruptions.

Centralized Data Repository. Digital supplier management tools offer a centralized repository to store all supplier-related information, such as qualification documents, certifications, performance metrics and contracts. This allows for easy access, retrieval and sharing of information across departments or teams, fostering collaboration and eliminating data silos. Data centralization can also provide comprehensive data analytics and reporting.

Streamlined Qualification Process. Standardized workflows and pre-defined criteria brought about by digital tools for supplier qualification enable a more structured and efficient process. They often include automated screening mechanisms, such as compliance checks and risk assessments, which help evaluate suppliers against specific requirements and filter out unqualified candidates.

Supplier Visibility through Trend Analysis. Tech-enabled solutions often encompass reporting and analytics capabilities that enable stakeholders to acquire valuable insights into supplier performance, cost structures and trends by tracking and reviewing key performance indicators (KPIs) based on predefined metrics. Organizations can leverage this data to identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements and strategic sourcing decisions. This results in real-time visibility into supplier performance, capabilities and compliance status, based on precise and up-to-date information.

Supplier Collaboration and Engagement. Some tech-enabled solutions help secure supplier communication channels and provide real-time collaborative platforms, which promote transparency and accountability in supplier-procurer relationships. These may include features such as supplier portals or online platforms that enable document sharing, bid submissions and performance feedback, fostering better engagement and long-term relationships.

Future Advances in Supplier Management

Looking ahead, digital solutions for supplier management are poised to transform the supplier-procurement paradigm for businesses. By utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, the supplier management process will become more efficient, reducing validation steps and communication requirements, and encouraging greater supplier participation. AI’s data-gathering capabilities and predictive modeling can accurately predict foodborne illness outbreaks that may occur by analyzing supplier data from various sources including environmental factors, ingredient quality and contamination history.

Similarly, Internet of Things (IoT)  data allows companies to monitor and optimize the movement of goods and services throughout the supply chain, establishing better traceability in the procurement process. With blockchain, companies can effortlessly verify supply chain integrity and product authenticity without human intervention, which further refines supplier auditability, addressing the complexities and delays in information flow between intermediaries and suppliers.

The integration of these state-of-the-art technologies will propel increasingly accurate and dynamic supplier management software, bringing forth a safer food supply chain for the future.

Prasant Prusty and Arundhathy Shabu

Food Safety Culture Is the Key Ingredient To Prevent Foodborne Diseases

By Arundhathy Shabu, Prasant Prusty
No Comments
Prasant Prusty and Arundhathy Shabu

Culture is not an initiative but rather the enabler of all initiatives, as observed rightly by Larry Senn, who is considered the Father of Corporate Culture.  Similarly, food safety culture (FSC) is the solid foundation that enables organizations to ultimately minimize food safety risks. This is why the simple idea of food safety culture emerges to be a powerful concept in reducing the global burden of foodborne diseases.

Let us consider some facts:

  • Employees working in food enterprises worldwide are required to be well-trained in food safety practices
  • A vast amount of food safety research is conducted around the world to improve and enhance food safety management
  • Companies are required to follow elaborate food safety regulations that include mandatory testing and inspections

It is quite contradictory that food safety remains a major public health threat. One way to understand why this happens is that just because something has been done in a specified manner for a long duration does not necessarily mean it is being done the right way. Hence, there must be a missing ingredient fundamental to preventing food safety incidents, which many have concluded relates to lack of a strong food safety culture.

The Importance of Food Safety Culture in Simple Terms

The behavior of your staff and leadership demonstrates whether each employee understands and is committed to ensuring your products are safe to consume and of good quality. In short, food safety equals behavior. This is the core notion Frank Yiannas talks about in his book, Food Safety Culture: Creating a Behavior-Based Food Safety Management System.

One of the most well-known outcomes associated with lack of a strong food safety culture was the PCA (Peanut Corporation of America) outbreak in 2009 when peanuts contaminated with Salmonella caused nine deaths, 11,000 to 20,000 illnesses, and a recall of 4,000 products. A proactive food safety culture that is centered on rigorous testing, quality control protocols, sanitation and traceability measures could have detected and prevented the spread outbreak, saving lives and money.

Companies are investigating and/or implementing food safety culture training and practices because no matter what we say or document regarding food safety, we cannot make progress unless we actually put these words into practice.

A systematic review of the scientific literature on food safety culture (FSC), published by the FDA in 2022 views food safety culture as a scientific concept. In conducting the study, FDA aspired to present food safety culture as a valid subset of science, rather than just a slogan, and use the knowledge obtained to provide tools that stakeholders can use to develop and assess their own food safety culture. This review is considered the primary groundwork for FDA’s efforts to uplift food safety culture in the industry, among consumers, and in regard to the present regulatory oversight.

Challenges and Barriers to Accomplishing a Strong and Effective Food Safety Culture 

The predominant challenges and barriers to creating, promoting and evaluating a strong and effective Food Safety Culture, as presented in the review, include:

Over-reliance on food safety management systems (FSMS)

FSMS plays a non-negotiable role in every food enterprise. Nevertheless, FSMS tend to be process focused and thus do not affect how human attitudes influence food safety. This is where a behavior-based FSMS is beneficial to forge a well-built FSC, as it offers a total system approach based on scientific knowledge of human behavior, organizational culture, and food safety.

Prioritization of cost-saving and money-earning

A profit-focused mentality is often the main barrier to implementing a positive FSC. Compromising food safety principles to save costs is never a good strategy. It can even be counter-productive as a negative FSC can eventually lead to a food safety incident, generating tremendous economic losses for the organization. An ideal FSC ensures that an obligation to food safety exists throughout the firm that outweighs all other company goals and practices.

Frequent staff turnover

Continuous staff turnover is a common phenomenon in the food sector. High staff turnover requires constant training and supervision to ensure employees’ understand the risks and other essential criteria needed for an adequate food safety climate. It also is challenging to ascertain the commitment and accountability of employees with temporary contracts.

Optimistic bias

Though it is said ‘experience is the best teacher, and the worst experiences teach the best lessons,’ it is always better for employees to realize that they are not immune to food contamination before experiencing a vulnerability to food safety. Every member of a food enterprise should know that they cannot afford optimism bias in terms of food safety, and that it is imperative to be prepared—and on the look out for—worst case scenarios.

How Digitalization Can Assist in Developing and Sustaining a Solid Food Safety Culture

Ideally, a commitment to food safety begins with management and permeates through the organization at all levels. Digital tools, particularly those used to manage the supply chain, can help. By establishing a network platform that integrates the online and offline worlds, digitalization connects all facets of the food production and processing chain. Let us break down how digital tools can be implemented throughout the food industry to enhance supply chain processes while nurturing a strong food safety culture.

1. Setting Expectations 

Digital tools allow for the efficient creation, distribution and maintenance of food safety policies, procedures and protocols. By utilizing digital systems, organizations can document and disseminate clear expectations regarding food safety practices. This includes defining standard operating procedures (SOPs), hygiene protocols and compliance guidelines. These digital resources can be easily accessed by employees, ensuring that everyone is aware of the established standards and expectations.

2. Communication & Training 

The next step is to properly communicate the established strategies among the employees and enforce them. This is where learning management systems and digital employee training platforms come in handy, as they engage and educate employees by conveying information and instructions related to various aspects of the organization. These tech-enabled solutions can also play a vital role in authorizing employees to collaborate via more efficient communication channels, address food safety compliance concerns and initiate appropriate corrective and preventive actions when necessary.

These tools allow companies to create training programs that utilize interactive modules, visual content, videos and quizzes to enhance employee learning and retention, while accommodating diverse learning styles such as flexible self-paced or group training. The training courses can be scheduled and assigned to individuals or groups according to the configured training types. Alerts and notifications can be promptly delivered to relevant personnel to inform them about critical updates and send reminders regarding their training courses. They also help companies track and manage training assignments, ensuring that employees complete required training within specified timeframes. Overall, they empower organizations to propagate information efficiently, advance knowledge transfer and ensure compliance with training requirements, thereby fostering a well-informed and competent workforce.

3. Monitoring 

Scheduling features of tech-enabled solutions offer a valuable means to successfully plan and monitor regular inspections, maintenance tasks and quality checks. Digital task assignment empowers employees to be accountable, confirm that responsibilities are clearly communicated, eliminate ambiguities in executing food business operations and track the progress and completion of each process, elevating the overall transparency of the supply chain process.

Notifications can be automatically generated to alert employees about upcoming inspections or any deviations from standard procedures. It is also possible to maintain an audit log, capturing and storing a detailed record of all food industry activities, actions and events. Another component that can be advantageous for monitoring efforts is a change log, which becomes useful for tracking modifications made to procedures, allowing for traceability, accountability and assistance with regulatory compliance efforts.

4. Reporting 

Digital tools typically include robust dashboards that can provide real-time insights into the supply chain. These intuitive interfaces can display data such as key metrics, compliance rates, inspection results, incident reports and corrective actions taken. Moreover, advanced filtering and drill-down capabilities enable users to delve deeper into specific data segments, facilitating in-depth analysis and comprehensive reporting.

Trend analysis tools can be employed to identify patterns and highlight areas that require further attention. They often incorporate predictive analytics and forecasting models, aiding businesses in predicting demand, optimizing inventory management and reducing waste. Furthermore, employee key performance indicators (KPIs) can be accessed through reporting mechanisms, and trend analysis features, which allows management to gauge employee contributions in upholding a food safety culture.

Tech-savvy solutions, such as food safety management software, are gaining significant traction in the market as they help food enterprises streamline their operations, optimize efficiency, promote transparency and accountability, and ensure compliance with food safety and quality regulations. All of which ultimately serve to instill a responsibility for food safety throughout your organization.