October/November 2023

In the October/November '23 issue of Food Safety Magazine, our cover story explores the regulation of food safety culture in the EU, including its enforcement, the legislative framework, and industry’s implementation. Additional features investigate detection methods for non-cultivable foodborne pathogens, proper egg handling and storage, and the U.S. pork industry’s science-driven approach to reducing Salmonella contamination.

Food Safety Culture Collaboration: Are Regulators Adapting and Catching Up?

Lone Jespersen Ph.D. Rounaq Nayak Ph.D. Anne-Mette Olsen D.V.M., M.V.P.H.

October 5, 2023

This article explores the intricate relationship between food safety culture and EU regulation while shedding light on its enforcement, the legislative framework, and implementation within the industry. It also explores how technology and data-driven approaches can play a vital role in promoting a positive food safety culture, and how industry best practices complement EU regulation.

Are ‘Standard’ Methods to Detect Non-Cultivable Pathogens in Food and the Environment Fit For Purpose?

Food system stakeholders face inherent challenges in managing non-cultivable foodborne pathogens

Lee-Ann Jaykus, Ph.D. Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D. Donald W. Schaffner, Ph.D. Sanjay Gummalla, Ph.D.

October 5, 2023

Non-cultivable foodborne pathogens, such as enteric viruses and protozoan parasites like Cyclospora, present unique challenges in our food system due to significant limitations in sampling and detection. This article covers the methodological drawbacks of current methods related to interpretation of results and public health risk, while offering alternative food safety management principles to address the prevalence of these pathogens in food.

Cracking the Code for High-Quality Eggs: Ensuring Proper Egg Handling and Storage

Many factors can influence the microbial, physical, and functional qualities of eggs through each phase from production to the end user

Deana Jones Ph.D. Richard Gast

October 5, 2023

Consumers desire safe, high-quality eggs that meet expectations of cleanliness, taste, appearance, and function. Egg handling and storage plays an integral role in meeting these consumer demands.

Pork and Prejudice: How the Industry's Science-Driven Approach Outshines Salmonella Standards in the Pursuit of Improving Public Health

Regardless of the proposed Salmonella performance standards, the pork industry has consistently taken proactive measures to address and mitigate Salmonella contamination risks for years

Wade Fluckey, Ph.D. Thomas Boyd Mindy Brashears Ph.D.

October 6, 2023

Data have allowed the pork industry to understand risk points in slaughter and processing, as well as the highest-risk products and how Salmonella changes throughout the process. The collective goal is to promote universal food safety knowledge, improve human health, and, thus, contribute to USDA's ambitious target of achieving a 25 percent reduction in salmonellosis cases by 2030.

EFSA's WGS System: Enhancing Food Safety in the EU by Connecting Genomic Data

The establishment of a comprehensive surveillance program that harnesses the benefits of WGS requires a coordinated approach within the framework of One Health

Valentina Rizzi D.V.M., Ph.D. Eleonora Sarno D.V.M., Ph.D., E.C.V.P.H. Mirko Rossi D.V.M., Ph.D.

October 6, 2023

The establishment of a comprehensive surveillance program that harnesses the benefits of whole genome sequencing (WGS) requires a coordinated approach involving multiple stakeholders at multiple levels within the framework of One Health. EFSA is actively collaborating with the network of EU experts to foster cooperation and promote equitable data-sharing practices, and is also committed to ensuring a more balanced contribution from all European countries and providing effective support and resources when necessary.

FSPCA Preventive Controls Updated Curriculum Highlights—Advantages for Food Safety Management

The issuance of FDA guidance documents and feedback from FSPCA stakeholders prompted FSPCA to update and issue a new version of its training curriculum

Martin Bucknavage M.B.A., M.S. Kathy Gombas

October 6, 2023

The updated Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Preventive Controls for Human Food curriculum provides small and midsized companies a better understanding of how to develop a food safety plan through the use of examples for implementation, with a clear demonstration that the Preventive Controls regulation is a HACCP-based system.

Food Safety Culture and Its Impact on Pest Management

Your sanitation team is critical to the success of your IPM program

Lone Jespersen Ph.D. Bob Lijana M.Sc. Jeff Weier B.C.E. John Boyce

October 9, 2023

Do engaged, informed, and empowered sanitation teams act as a predictor of success for an integrated pest management (IPM) program? With excellent food safety risk management behaviors, a frontline sanitation team can help manage existing risks and identify new ones, dramatically reducing the potential of product contamination due to pest activity in a facility. This article describes an action plan to help achieve these goals.

Digitized Supply Chains Deliver Improved Visibility, Traceability, and Happy Customers

Technology upgrades are needed to serve increasingly complex, global markets more efficiently and effectively

Angela Fernandez

October 6, 2023

A lack of supply chain visibility frustrates efforts to ensure food safety or improve organizational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Key data points, such as unique product identification and location, need to be standardized and digitally encoded so that they can be automatically captured and shared up and down the supply chain, to help ensure interoperability.

Rings of Defense: Justifying and Negotiating Food Safety Actions to Regulators

In the stress of an inspection where a noncompliance is found, it is important to consider all avenues for corrective actions

Bob Lijana M.Sc.

October 9, 2023

In defending food safety procedures and practices to an inspector who is challenging them, it is best to have multiple sequential "rings of defense." This means that the easiest changes are suggested first, with more costly and difficult changes suggested later. Doing this strategically has the advantage of minimizing changes to the procedures and practices, and potentially avoiding a costly recall or market withdrawal.

Evolution of FDA's Regulation of Packaging for Infant Food

FDA has been adjusting its industry guidance for Food Contact Notifications and Food Contact Substances for infant formula since the passage of the Infant Formula Act of 1980

George G. Misko Esq.

October 9, 2023

Starting in 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to include new restrictions in new Food Contact Notifications on the use of food contact substances for infant applications. Recently, FDA has hosted webinars to present information on regulatory requirements and considerations for infant formula ingredients and packaging. This article will discuss the history and current efforts by FDA to ensure the safety of infant formula, especially pertaining to food contact substances used in packaging.

Food Safety Insights: Food Safety Priorities—Getting ‘Back to Basics'

Pandemic disruptions prevented a greater focus on fundamental issues, to which processors are now returning

Bob Ferguson

October 5, 2023

In this Food Safety Insights column, we continue to explore processors' near-term priorities for food safety programs, as well as the regulations and issues they are watching that will have the most impact on their programs in the future. Food safety culture, microbiological control (including environmental monitoring), and sanitation and hygiene are three of processors' indicated top priorities for the near term.

Safe Bites: Ensuring Ethics Make the Food Menu

Numerous sectors require that their professionals engage with ethical education; why does the food industry not mandate food safety ethics courses?

Cori Muse

October 9, 2023

In the ever-evolving world of the food industry, ethics play a pivotal role in safeguarding consumers and upholding the integrity of businesses. This article aims to provide readers with a profound understanding of ethics in the food industry and how they intertwine with food safety culture. Thought-provoking stories highlight the importance of formal food ethics and their role in decision-making. As consumers, employees, or stakeholders, we all play a part in shaping a more ethically responsible food industry, where safety and trust are paramount.

Cybersecurity and Food Defense: Bridging Information Flow Between Business and Government

The most important role of a Food and Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FA-ISAC) is to facilitate the flow of information between industry and government entities

Robert A. Norton Ph.D. Marcus (Marc) Sachs P.E.

October 9, 2023

Information sharing is an important function for a Food and Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FA-ISAC), which links business and government through "active collaboration," thereby strengthening the ability of the food and agriculture industries to withstand challenges and threats.

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