Intertek Alchemy, a Total Quality Assurance provider for the food processing industry, has published key findings from its seventh Global Food Safety Training Survey. The survey is a comprehensive study and assessment of food safety training practices, drawing on responses from industry professionals representing more than 3,000 food production facilities worldwide.

The research reveals what actions and characteristics that companies with robust food safety programs have in common, and what actions the companies with trailing outcomes lack. The report provides an extensive analysis that outlines actionable, data-driven recommendations to help manufacturing companies strengthen their food safety processes.

Intertek Alchemy highlights significant challenges and contradictions of current food safety training practices that were revealed in its survey. For example, 88 percent of companies believe they provide adequate levels of food safety training to drive consistent and appropriate food safety behaviors; however, only 40 percent of their employees follow food safety programs on the manufacturing floor. Other key findings from the survey include:

• 81 percent of companies understand what it takes to build and sustain a strong food safety culture, but only 22 percent strongly agree that their employees have the authority to take action when food safety is compromised
• 80 percent of companies believe they would be more productive if their employees consistently adhered to their training programs; however, only 19 percent of companies are increasing their budget for food safety training, and only 18 percent plan to acquire new training technology in 2023
• Tailoring training to specific job roles increases the likelihood by 60 percent that a frontline employee will halt production when necessary to prevent a food safety incident
• Highly motivated employees are over two times more likely to consistently adhere to food safety protocols on the floor
• 78 percent of companies with a mature upskilling program have highly motivated employees, compared to 43 percent for companies without an upskilling program.