Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsManagementCulture

Danish Researchers Develop Change Agent Model for Food Safety Culture

By Bailee Henderson
employees high fiving

Credit: krakenimages via Unsplash

January 30, 2023

By approaching food safety culture (FSC) as organizational culture, a recent study funded by the Danish Agriculture Food Council has developed a Change Agent Model for FSC. The model illustrates the important underlying mechanisms that an individual or group can work through to become culture change agents and drivers for FSC development.

With the intent of bringing unconscious underlying assumptions to awareness to reveal participants' process of transforming their underlying assumptions, researchers conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with and trained participants using a therapeutic intervention technique known as MyElite Relationship Therapy. Data was collected over a three-year period and participants were employees within the Food Safety and Veterinary department at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council.

The study identified five underlying mechanisms that participants experienced as they trained and engaged to actively change their own individual culture and the culture of the department:

  • Accepting senses as the internal navigator: The ability to gain insights into the present through sensory awareness
  • Embracing one's emotions unconditionally: Accepting oneself and emotions to form better relationships, trust, and social capital with others
  • Witnessing oneself and surroundings: The ability to observe and become aware of oneself and one’s surroundings in various contexts
  • Interacting openly with others: Creating an honest and open environment that enables employees to influence people and culture
  • Practicing “Safe Harbor”: The practice of developing oneself and the surrounding culture by continuously training one's sensing abilities, and approaching emotional resistance and challenges with openness.

The participants identified Safe Harbor as the best practice to become culture change agents and lead the continuous FSC development. The Change Agent Model produced by the study illustrates the loop that individuals must be willing to engage in to create Safe Harbor in themselves and with others, thereby transforming FSC.

The therapeutic training conducted in the study was too time-consuming and/or emotionally challenging for some employees. The authors stress that the practice of addressing one’s underlying mechanisms and the surrounding FSC should be engaged in voluntarily, as enforcement may lead to more emotional resistance to change.

Overall, the study showed that working intensely and therapeutically with senses and emotions on an individual and group level can have a significant impact on the surrounding FSC by bringing underlying mechanisms to awareness.

KEYWORDS: food safety culture management study

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Baileehendersonmay23

Bailee Henderson is the Digital Editor of Food Safety Magazine. She can be reached at hendersonb@bnpmedia.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Microbiological
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Facilities
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Best Practices
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • mold
    Sponsored byIFC

    Tackling Mold Remediation in Food Processing Plants

  • a worker in a food processing plant
    Sponsored byLPS® DETEX®

    How a Beverage Facility Improved Food Safety and Compliance with Detectable Packaging Solutions

  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

Popular Stories

sunflower oil

Louisiana Passes ‘MAHA’ Bill Targeting More Than 40 Ingredients, Including Seed Oils, Dyes, Sweeteners

smoked salmon in oil

Study Shows Food Type Significantly Affects Listeria’s Ability to Survive Digestion, Cause Sickness

Justin Ransom and Denise Eblen

USDA-FSIS Announces Dr. Justin Ransom as New Administrator

Events

July 15, 2025

Hygienic Design Risk Management: Industry Challenges and Global Insights

Live: July 15, 2025 at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn the importance of hygienic design to ensure food safety and sanitation effectiveness.

July 22, 2025

Beyond the Binder: Digital Management of Food Safety

Live: July 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn best practices for the use of digital food safety management systems across industry and regulatory agencies.

August 7, 2025

Achieve Active Managerial Control of Major Risk Factors Using a Food Safety Management System

Live: August 7, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn about changes to the FDA Food Code, which now includes a requirement for FSMS. 

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • small wheel of goat cheese on charcuterie board next to cheese knife and green grapes

    Researchers Develop Predictive Model for Listeria Growth in RTE Artisanal Cheeses

    See More
  • precut watermelon in packaging

    Researchers Develop New Quantitative Risk Assessment Model for Foodborne Illness Outbreak Investigations

    See More
  • two researchers standing in front of large screen that says AI

    Using RASFF Data, Researchers Develop Integrated AI Framework for Improved Food Safety Risk Assessment

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1119053595.jpg

    Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain, 2E

  • 1119160553.jpg

    Food Safety: Innovative Analytical Tools for Safety Assessment

  • 1118396308.jpg

    High Throughput Analysis for Food Safety

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • March 11, 2025

    Change Management of Food Safety Culture: Effective Strategies for Achieving Greatness

    On Demand: During this webinar, attendees will gain practical knowledge on successful food safety culture change programs and transformation journeys from real-world experiences, enabling attendees to navigate challenges and achieve lasting improvements in their FSC initiatives.
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • Serim Research Corp.

    Serim® Research is a leading manufacturer of specialized test strips for multiple industries including food safety and healthcare. Our tests for measuring chlorine and QAC sanitizing solutions are preferred by many customers including national restaurants, food production and processing companies. We also manufacture tests for residual glucose, water quality
  • Spoiler Alert Food Safety

    Spoiler Alert! Food Safety is the premier cloud based digital food safety platform. This powerful yet simple to app allows you to; track food rotation, generate easy to read smart labels, track product life cycle and alert all of your mobile devices along the way. Our exclusive eco friendly wash-away labels rinse safely down the drain. Starting at just $9.99/mo. Start your 30 day FREE trial today. Developed in the U.S.A. by restaurant professionals, for restaurant professionals.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing