Food Safety Culture
Building a strong, aligned food safety culture requires commitment from all levels of an organisation – from top management all the way to front-line employees. Food safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Growing and developing a food safety culture is similar to a change management process. With any change process, it’s important to understand that it takes time to implement change and make it stick. You want the changes you make to be sustainable.
Defining
There are many definitions of Food Safety Culture, but the one that is most aligned with us is the GFSI – Global Food Safety Initiative developed definition.
“Shared values, beliefs, and norms that affect mind-set and behaviour toward food safety in, across and throughout an organisation”.
FSANZ has developed toolkits and questionnaires for businesses wanting to do a healthcheck of where they are on their journey.
What does a good Food Safety Culture mean for Your Business?
Meets Regulatory Requirements: when you have a strong food safety culture, staff are more likely to follow good food safety practices and procedures. This is essential for meeting regulatory requirements and maintaining compliance with food safety standards. Food safety culture is also a requirement for GFSI and BRGS standards.
Prevents Foodborne Illnesses: a strong food safety culture helps ensure the food you make is free from harmful pathogens and contamination. This protects public health by preventing food recalls and foodborne outbreaks, ensuring public health.
Builds Consumer Confidence: consumers are increasingly concerned about whether the food they eat is safe. And consumers have the right to expect that the food they purchase and consume is safe and suitable. Fewer food (product) recalls instills trust in consumers that they can rely on certain brands and make informed buying choices.
Increases Efficiency: Implementing an effective food safety culture can help streamline your operations and reduce waste. This leads to cost savings and increased efficiency in your food business.
How do I build a great Food Safety Culture?
Have clearly defined food safety goals: clearly defined food safety goals help ensure that everyone in the organisation is aligned and working towards the same objectives. They highlight was is a priority and what the business deems important.
Empower Employees: encourage employees to take an active role in food safety. Provide training and education to raise awareness about the importance of food safety and give employees the tool and resources they need to grow their understanding and apply it in their roles everyday.
Encourage open communication: encourage employees to report food safety concerns and issues without fear of retaliation. This helps to identify and resolve food safety issues before they become bigger problems. Reward employees rather than punish them for raising potential concerns.
Lead by Example: Top-level management should demonstrate a commitment to food safety by setting an example for others to follow. Management should be visible, involved, and accessible and take a hands-on approach to food safety.
Foster a Culture of Continuous Improvement: continuously access and evaluate food safety practices and make adjustments as needed. Encourage employees to suggest improvements and recognise those who contribute to food safety.
Food Safety is Integrated into all aspects of the business: food safety should be integrated throughout all areas of the business including purchasing, production, supply chain, and distribution.
Document and enforce Policies and Procedures: develop and document food safety policies and procedures. Ensure all employees understand and follow them. Consistently enforce food safety policies and keep them up to date to ensure compliance.
