In the ever-evolving world of food safety, the FDA continues to lead the charge with initiatives that emphasize the critical role of food safety culture and advanced tools for preventing outbreaks. The New Era of Smarter Food Safety, launched in 2020, aims to create a more digital, traceable, and effective food safety system. Now in its second year, the initiative is making strides in reducing foodborne illnesses. Two key areas highlighted in the New Era plan are fostering a robust food safety culture and improving tools and approaches for outbreak prevention and response.
Earlier this year, in February, the FDA collaborated with Stop Foodborne Illnesses, a nonprofit organization, to host a webinar focusing on how to make leaders more aware of risks and encourage them to mitigate these risks. The session underscored the importance of food safety culture in managing risks across various sectors, including food retail. Key insights from the discussion included:
- According to a survey by Lone Jespersen of Cultivata SA, a mere 48% of top-level leaders in companies are knowledgeable about food safety risks. She recommended that senior managers engage in factory walk-throughs with frontline employees to gain deeper insights into processes.
- Nancy Wilson of Wawa Foods suggested that businesses should identify food safety issues and their impact on operations, seeking partnerships beyond the food safety team to align with existing goals.
- Randy Huffman of Maple Leaf Foods emphasized that a strong food safety culture thrives when it engages both the minds and hearts of employees, advocating for a bottom-up approach.
In April, the FDA also presented a webinar on their Foodborne Outbreak Response Improvement Plan (FORIP), detailing strategies to enhance the speed, effectiveness, coordination, and communication during outbreak investigations. These efforts are vital for quickly identifying the source of outbreaks and preventing future incidents. Frank Yiannas, the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response, highlighted the need for modern tools, such as Whole Genome Sequencing, in addressing contemporary food safety challenges.
As a supporter of the FDA's New Era initiative, Remco is proud to contribute by offering high-quality color-coded material handling tools like scoops, tubs, scrapers, and mixing paddles. Additionally, as a Vikan company, we provide innovative, hygienically designed cleaning solutions to food producers and manufacturers in North America. If you're interested in learning how our solutions can bolster food safety at your facility, feel free to reach out.
For further reading, check out the references below:
- FDA Releases the ‘New Era of Smarter Food Safety’ Blueprint (vikan.com)
- Collaborating on Culture in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety - 02/16/2022 | FDA
- New Era of Smarter Food Safety: FDA’s Foodborne Outbreak Response Improvement Plan | FDA
- New Era of Smarter Food Safety | FDA
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