Foodservice/Retail

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Part of Food Safety Magazine’s series with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), titled, “Evolution of a New Era: Advancing Strategies for Smarter Food Safety,” this episode of Food Safety Matters discusses the research and application of behavior sciences with retail foodservice employees and regulatory agencies that help reduce foodborne illness risk factors.

The food safety management program in a foodservice business should be periodically benchmarked against the most current regulatory requirements and best-in-class food safety standards to determine if gaps exist in the program. The gap analysis should be performed by a third party to ensure an unbiased benchmark, and include a review of the corporate governance, systems/specifications, training/education, supply chain management, foodservice operations, and facilities design. The food safety management team should coordinate and review all deficiencies with an action plan prioritized to the level of risk identified.

A survey was sent to food industry trade association members representing food companies to determine what is known about food safety culture, food safety management systems, and active managerial control. The survey also asked about the implementation of such practices in support of a culture of food safety. The survey results indicate that many companies are well aware of these food safety concepts; however, many respondents are unsure whether their company is operating with true active managerial control. Opportunities were uncovered to inform and encourage engagement in active managerial control to a greater degree.

The Lake County General Health District (LCGHD) of Ohio has announced the re-launch of its Food Safety Ninja website, which was originally developed with support from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The newly designed resource provides food safety information that is relevant to foodservice and food retail establishments.

Federal and state regulators, along with consumer groups, are shifting their food safety focus toward customer-facing businesses.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) 2022 Food Code clarifies that food donations from retail food establishments are acceptable, given that proper food safety practices are followed.

Every fourth restaurant and café in Sweden provides incorrect information about allergenic ingredients, according to a report from the Swedish Food Agency (also known as Livsmedelsverket in Swedish).

This article looks back at the events of the 1993 E. coli outbreak associated with hamburgers served at Jack in the Box restaurants along the U.S. West Coast, examining the regulatory changes inspired by the fatal outbreak and its impact. Also discussed are the corporate and industry changes, spearheaded by Dr. David Theno, that set new standards for leadership and management in foodservice and food safety. 

Singapore has recently released new guidelines for food e-commerce for industry that outline food safety best practices related to products sold online or through e-commerce channels.

Researchers at Penn State University (PSU) have developed and piloted a food safety training program for farmers market vendors, in response to a need revealed by previous studies.