Food Safety Top Stories

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This article discusses factors to consider before making decisions on material selection and design of equipment and infrastructure, including product, cleaning chemicals and practices, activities in the area, and other considerations. It also explores the importance of cross-functional team knowledge and decision-making for design choices.

Food manufacturers should consider their physical plants in their list of prerequisite programs for HACCP. As demonstrated by a recent, high-profile Listeria outbreak at a major meat processor, facility condition and upkeep can have a significant effect on food safety.

In today's advanced manufacturing environment, food processing offers a great career and many opportunities for people to experience. So, how can the food industry attract youth to food manufacturing careers?

While recommendations to reduce sodium consumption align with promoting public health, they may also challenge current food safety uses of sodium in products on the market. The solutions are more complicated than just cutting back on sodium levels in foods like meats and cheeses.

The challenge of mitigating E. coli in leafy greens calls for a rigorous, multifaceted approach that includes stringent sanitation practices, facility design optimization, and the use of advanced microbial control methods.

Treating melons as food as soon as possible—even though they will be peeled—is needed to mitigate the risks associated with the three contamination mechanisms for cantaloupe. Zero risk is impossible, but can industry do better?

Temperature monitoring is more than writing numbers on a form or entering data into a spreadsheet. Personnel must be properly educated on not only how to do the work, but also why it is important—as well as the ramifications of failing to properly do the work.

By fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, food businesses reduce risks and gain agility, positioning themselves as industry leaders. This proactive approach enables companies to manage food safety risks more effectively while staying competitive and responsive to evolving demands.

Marking the intersection between human decision-making and biosecurity, deliberate attacks present risks like the poisoning or adulteration of food products, or cyberattacks targeting control or process systems. Collectively, "cognitive security"—or protecting the human decision-making process—needs to be a consideration for industry, government, and academia as an element of food security. 

Regarding food safety systems efficacy, this article suggests that "better is possible," and re-affirms the necessity of ongoing confirmation of the efficacy of food safety proposals, pursuits, and programs to ensure the safety and quality of food and avoid repeating preventable failures.