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Posted 29/08/2022

Establishing and Implementing an Effective Food Safety Management System in 2022

Establishing and Implementing an Effective Food Safety Management System in 2022

The food industry is growing at a rapid pace, and the need for strong food safety systems has never been greater. Professionals in this space—manufacturers, storage facilities, distributors, and retailers—must now balance emergency preparedness with year-round preventive measures to protect their company operations.

What Food Safety Management Systems Are and Why They Matter

A food safety management system (FSMS) is a program that specifically articulates how a business operating within the human food chain manages and improves its food safety practices. It demonstrates the integrity of that business’ supply chain, including their sourcing of quality raw materials and ingredients, product labelling and packaging, and safety declarations around allergens and contamination by potentially harmful components. Along with the assurance of food safety and the prevention of adverse health events for consumers, a FSMS will detail the policies and procedures that are in place in the event of a product recall or food fraud.

What Key Challenges Need to be Addressed in an FSMS

There are fundamental aspects of a food safety program that must be in place, however, there are also specific areas that are often challenging across the board. In 2022, the most common challenges for businesses to address in their food safety program are:

1. Cleaning, Hygiene, and Sanitation

The foundations of food safety lie in effective and thorough cleaning and sanitation of all aspects of the facility and its operations. A business should understand the risk factors specific to their operations – such as whether they’re a wet or dry facility if they’re exposed to environmental contaminants, or whether they have the adequate or appropriate equipment and resources for their requirements. Knowing these details ensures a complete understanding of the business’ current sanitation practices and will inform elements of their food safety program that need attention. Effective cleaning, hygiene and sanitation are crucial in a food safe facility, not only to remove existing bacteria but also to maintain an environment that prevents further (or new) growth and spread of bacteria. This can be done by consistent management of conditions so as not to encourage microbial growth.

Getting the basics in place is probably the most important. This includes knowing the difference between ‘cleaning’ and ‘sanitising’ and ensuring appropriate cleaning and sanitisation procedures are in place, as well as any special requirements to factor in around COVID-19 protocols. It’s also advised to develop a pre-operational inspection checklist that documents the condition of equipment and processing areas before production commences, and after cleaning and sanitation is completed. These inspections can be regularly conducted by the relevant qualified team members on site such as the production supervisor or the QC leads. Incorporating tools such as allergen rapid testing kits into the program is also useful.

2. Managing Supply Chains

Some of the biggest news stories of the pandemic were around supply chain issues – from lockdowns and empty supermarket shelves to dwindling menus and understaffing. Every link in the chain was impacted and as greater risks than ever before presented themselves, the cracks appeared quickly, and the usual resolutions fell short.

Effective supply chain management depends on a solid understanding of the present-day risks and challenges as well as those on the horizon and ever-evolving, including, but not limited to, food fraud, food safety, worker welfare, responsible sourcing, and environmental, social and corporate governance. This then ensures the business is adequately prepared to improve supply chain risk management practices before and as they arise. Effective supply chain management can evolve when strategic risk-based thinking is prioritised and dedicated and empowered risk management staff are in place. This creates a foundation for a strong food safety culture to be developed, where quality assurance and technical staff are supported by the broader team and a collective mindset of operational responsibility evolves, to ensure there is visibility, accountability, engagement and control.

3. Sustainability

There has been an increasing focus on sustainability over the past decade, due to an upward shift in consumer priorities and expectations around health, the environment, and the ethics of how food is made. This encompasses how the raw materials and components are grown and sourced (including the welfare of animals impacted by its production), what effect the supply of that product may have on climate, the environment, or local ecosystems, and how a business manages its production and waste. Organisations need to ensure they can back the claims they have made, as well as be realistic in the sustainability goals they set to achieve.

 This has taken on particular significance in the food industry in recent times and companies are re-evaluating their efforts around sustainability in all aspects of their operations, including more deeply embedding it across all aspects of their CSR initiatives.

 4. Food Safety Culture

All of the points listed above are of equal importance, but without a robust and deeply integrated food safety culture, there will inevitably be failures. The embedding of food safety practices and principles within an organisation requires a culture led by practical strategies and measures that everyone can understand. There are several important steps to follow to establish and implement a food safety plan, but once it’s in place, the development of a food safety culture within the organisation is also essential.

For food safety to be truly embedded into an organisation, a mindset that thinks beyond compliance is required. A shared food safety culture is developed through a subtle but meaningful shift away from the gold standard practices of clipboards and ticking boxes. It becomes evident when all the logistics are in place and food safety exists as everyday behaviour.

5. Business Continuity

With compliance and culture defined and aligned, the focus must then shift to the future and the ongoing development of a brand’s resilience and reputation. It’s not enough to simply establish, implement, and maintain when it comes to food safety programs. Food safety management systems must be continuously monitored, measured, evaluated, and improved. The integrity of a company’s food safety practice and culture is what provides the richness and integrity to any FSMS – with all components coming together in ways that are intricate yet cohesive.

The strength of a brand’s FSMS, practice and culture will only take it so far, however. Proactively integrating robust action plans around risk and potential crises is of fundamental importance, especially in an unpredictable world with an insatiably hungry news cycle. This has never in our living history been more prescient than the last few years, with staff shortages and supply chain interruptions significantly impacting how a business continues to operate. A business continuity plan will prepare a business for any crisis that may come.

Implementing an Effective Food Safety Management System

An FSMS is a constructive framework that is used to determine food safety processes in your organisation or business. It is not a single solution, but rather a process that requires enacting best practices to ensure food safety. This can be done through the development of policies and procedures as well as staff training and education. The true power of FSMS though lies in its ability to galvanise everyone involved toward a common goal—safe food. In this article, we've addressed some of the major points you'll need to consider when implementing an FSMS. Implementing one effectively will take time and resources, but it will also pay off in the long run as your company's food safety culture flourishes.

 Click here to read the full article or for more information, visit saiassurance.com.au/



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