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Home » Authors » Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson

Bob Ferguson

Bob Ferguson is president of Strategic Consulting Inc. and can be reached at bobferguson9806@gmail.com or on Twitter at @SCI_Ferguson.

Articles

ARTICLES

woman cleaning

Hygienic Design: How are Processors Coping With This Essential Element of Food Safety?—Part 2

Food processors elaborate on their sanitation program's fundamentals and challenges
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
June 19, 2025

The hygienic design, sanitation, and maintenance of food processing equipment and the surrounding production facilities are of paramount importance for an effective food safety sanitation program. In this column, we share additional information from processors about their programs, as well as the challenges and obstacles they face in keeping their equipment and facilities in the best condition to ensure food safety.


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bread assembly

Hygienic Design: How are Processors Coping With This Essential Element of Food Safety?

Hygienic design of both equipment and processing facilities is important for the consistent production of safe food
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
April 11, 2025

The hygienic design, sanitation, and maintenance of food processing equipment and the surrounding production facilities are of paramount importance for an effective food safety sanitation program. In this column, we share firsthand information from processors about their programs, as well as the challenges and obstacles they face in keeping their equipment and facilities in the best condition to ensure food safety.


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chicken processing plant

Regulatory Changes Impacting Your Food Safety Program, Part 2—What Should USDA's Priorities Be?

Your opinions on USDA's proposed Salmonella regulations and your priorities for your food safety programs in 2025.
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
February 14, 2025

Based on survey responses from food processors, part 2 of this column series explores industry perspectives on USDA's changing regulatory approach to Salmonella in raw poultry products and how it may affect processors' operations. The article also delves into processors' top priorities for their food safety programs in 2025. 


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woman checking off a list

Regulatory Changes Impacting Your Food Safety Program, Part 1—What Should FDA's Priorities Be?

We asked for your opinions on FDA's Human Foods Program and the food regulatory structure in the U.S.—and you answered
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
December 19, 2024

This column explores food processors’ comments on the potential impacts of important industry developments, including the establishment of FDA’s Human Foods Program and USDA’s developing new regulatory approach to Salmonella in poultry. The article also delves into processors' priorities for their food safety programs in 2025. 


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lab person with a clipboard analyzing ingredients

How is the Revolution in Technology Changing Food Safety?—Part 3

Food safety professionals continue to be focused on efforts to continually get better at their fundamental responsibility to produce safe food
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
October 15, 2024

A survey of 200 international food processors provides insight into which food safety technologies are being adopted and their effects on daily operations. Part 3 explores the impact and need for further development of testing technologies, focusing on responses from participants outside of North America.


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conveyor belt

How is the Revolution in Technology Changing Food Safety?—Part 2

How has adoption of different technologies affected processors' daily food safety operations and improved their food safety outcomes?
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
August 8, 2024

In the June/July Food Safety Insights column, a significant number of global food processors reported adopting new analytical testing technologies. This column dives further into processors' adoption of analytical testing technologies, whether for laboratory or in-plant use.


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conveyor belt and hazard sign

How is the Revolution in Technology Changing Food Safety?

How has adoption of different technologies affected processors' daily food safety operations and improved their food safety outcomes?
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
July 2, 2024

This article shares the views of more than 250 global food safety professionals on which new technologies have been the most beneficial for their food safety programs and for the general food safety landscape, as well as their thoughts on possible future changes. 


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woman in a lab running tests

Rapid Testing Methods—The Future

Most companies no longer have a microbiology lab or pathogen analysis capabilities, which will change the types of rapid test methods that will be in demand in the future
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
April 12, 2024

Part 3 of this Food Safety Insights series on rapid testing asks food safety professionals whether the vast increase in outsourcing of testing to contract labs has made rapid methods less useful, or if the methods' ease of use and speed are still important for better management and decision-making.


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lab equipment

Rapid Testing Methods—Processor Preferences

Which rapid microbiological test methods are preferred by food processors, and what attributes of rapid tests are most important to them?
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
February 13, 2024

Ongoing debates about the use of rapid microbiological test methods in food safety have led to the rise of many questions about the future of this type of testing. This column will explore which methods are being used, food processors' views on what attributes of the tests are most important, how fast is fast enough, and what even faster tests would enable them to accomplish. It also explores where the growth may continue and whether rapid methods used in commercial labs will continue to drive growth, or if a plateau is likely. Growth in regions outside of the U.S. and Europe will also be examined, along with whether rapid testing technology is evolving to the point where it may be acceptable to bring back the analysis to an in-plant lab.


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rapid microbiological methods (RMM) in food safety testing

Rapid Testing Methods—Still a Necessary Part of Food Safety?

Due to the well-known risks of working with pathogens in an in-plant food laboratory, there has been a dramatic shift to outsourcing for pathogen samples
Bob Ferguson
Bob Ferguson
December 12, 2023

Ongoing debates about the use of rapid test methods in food safety have led to the rise of the question: Has the vast increase in outsourcing testing to contract labs made rapid methods less useful, or is the ease of use and speed of the methods still important (if not essential) for better management and decision-making in food safety? Food Safety Insights asks food safety professionals their opinions on this question.


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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. 

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