GFSI Standards Implementation Can Save Lives: Make Food Safe for Consumers

I have been working in the food industry now for eight years with experience working in the dairy industry, fresh produce industry, and now with Marley Spoon, which provides convenient home cooking for customers all over the world.

Gone are those days when food consumers were looking for delicious food only. Now, the customer not only wants delicious food to their table but safe food that will keep them and their loved ones safe. Customers are now aware of the harmful food-borne bacteria and viruses like Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, Norovirus, and others and know their implications on health. It now depends on food experts like us to not only provide good quality but also ensure food safety.

Food safety is ensured by implementing strict standards. More and more food companies around the world are now moving towards implementing Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) standards and making their Quality Management Systems (QMS) impenetrable.

Here are a few steps to prevent food recalls and save lives:

Get Your Basics Right

Implement a hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system for your company. Identify all the hazards that can make your food not safe. Now implement measures so they are never introduced in your food. Ensure all surroundings that directly and indirectly affect your food are safe and controlled. Many of us only want to focus on the actual food being manufactured, but the real issue can start in our surroundings that can spread bacteria and viruses. Implement Pre-requisite programs, Approved supplier programs, Environmental swabbing programs, food testing programs, internal audit programs, and customer complaints management. 

Validate and Verify

Ensure all processes are validated before implementing them on a full-time basis. Once they work in your head, get them to work in the working area. Make adjustments until you are sure the finished product is safe to consume.

Use of data and statistics is the way to change food safety culture in any organization

Now comes the best part. Verify. Keep on verifying your processes at regular intervals. Ensure food safety is not compromised.

Improve Food Safety Culture in Workspace

Get your work colleagues on board to ensure your final product is safe. Food safety is everyone's responsibility. It's always a collective effort to ensure our final consumers get the best quality and safe food. The use of data and statistics is the way to change the food safety culture in any organization. Data has proven implementation of GFSI standards has reduced food-borne illnesses and improved food safety in companies.

Get Set Data

Use the data you have gathered through implementing QMS to your strength. Data helps you understand where you need to improve to strengthen your system. Data helps you analyze what your customer wants and needs. Data analysis is an important management tool used in all leading food and beverage companies to reduce customer complaints by identifying root causes and implementing appropriate corrective actions.

Be Audit Ready Everyday

Implementation of a GFSI standard is 50 percent of work done. Maintaining the standards is the other 50 percent. All food safety programs that ensure compliance should be verified on a regular basis. They need to be challenged at regular intervals. Ensure compliance is not only on paper but in reality as well. This saves time and money in food withdrawals and recalls.

I always like to say, spend thousands to save millions. Implement the best food safety standard in your workplace as per your best efforts to ensure our consumers have the best food experience. Every major supermarket in Australia now only sources from GFSI-certified food companies. This is changing for a reason. The Industry is shaping and refining every day. So it is important for food industry professionals to keep up and stay with the trend. Customers deserve more and they are getting more now.