Best Practices

Ep. 215. Stalker and Terada: Aligning Culture, Risk, and Operations at the Food Safety Summit

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to two industry leaders and Food Safety Summit Editorial Advisory Board members about managing food safety programs across large-scale, global operations; upcoming Summit sessions on imported food safety risks and food safety culture; and advice for early-career food safety professionals.

The Invisible Plant Tax Starts with Your Records

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Most food manufacturers know that documentation matters. Few have stopped to calculate what poor documentation is costing them—in time, in audit exposure, and in the operational intelligence they can't yet use.

Monitoring and Recordkeeping: The Heart of HACCP

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Monitoring and recordkeeping are the heart of HACCP. Records demonstrate that the program is being properly managed and that the established critical limits are being met, providing supporting data to show that the processor is producing safe foods.

Poultry Industry Launches Pre-Competitive Food Safety Forum

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The Poultry Industry Food Safety Council (PIFSCo) will take an all-of-industry approach to identifying research priorities, sharing practical solutions, and promoting continuous food safety improvement.

Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Announces 2026 Food Safety Workshops

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 11:08:52 -0400

The in-person Dairy Plant Food Safety Workshops and Supplier Food Safety Management Workshop help dairy manufacturers enhance their in-plant and supplier food safety programs and strengthen preventive controls, in alignment with regulatory requirements.

Ep. 213. Richard Stier: Driving Continuous Improvement in Food Safety and Sanitation

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 02:30:00 -0400

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, Richard Stier, M.S., a consulting food scientist and longtime Food Safety Magazine contributor, recalls lessons from decades in food processing facilities, discussing crisis preparedness, internal audits, facility sanitation and employee hygiene, HACCP, and why strong food safety programs must be continuously improved to remain effective.

FAO/WHO Experts Publish Report on Control Measures for Foodborne Viruses of Concern

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:40:55 -0500

The FAO/WHO Joint Expert Meeting on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) has published a report on prevention and intervention measures for foodborne virus–commodity pairs of concern.

Preventive Maintenance: A Complex Prerequisite Program

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0500

Preventive maintenance, which involves a great deal of documentation and recordkeeping, can be considered as the most complex and detailed of the essential prerequisite programs.

Six Trends the Food Safety Community Should Know About in 2026

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:51:28 -0500

The way people shop, cook, and seek information is evolving rapidly, and with it, the expectations placed on food safety educators, regulators, and industry partners.

Ep. 210. Campbell Mitchell: Executive Leadership in Food Safety on a Global Scale

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 02:30:00 -0500

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Campbell Mitchell, Head of Food Safety and Compliance for Kraft Heinz North America, about working in cross-cultural teams, communicating the importance of food safety beyond lab testing, how consumer demands influence safety-adjacent business decisions, the use of advanced digital tools, and other topics.

Food Scientists Outline Top Five Trends Shaping Food Policy, Innovation in 2026

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

The Institute of Food Technologists’ (IFT’s) Science and Policy Initiatives team has revealed the top five food trends of 2026 that are predicted to impact the food and policy landscape related to innovation, safety, sustainability, and consumer trust.

Safe Chemical Handling and Storage

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This article discusses how an operation should develop, document, implement, and maintain a program to properly manage the many chemicals that are used in food processing.

Practical Training Aids for Effective Food Safety Training

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Quality assurance professionals and frontline leaders must ensure that food handlers learn and apply food safety principles on the job. Effective food safety training should be action-oriented, engaging, and designed to build competence.

FAO Report Highlights Needs for Responsible AI Adoption in Food Safety Fields

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:32:03 -0400

Despite growing enthusiasm about and application of artificial intelligence (AI) for food safety management and regulatory oversight, the report underscores persistent challenges, the need for robust governance, and other factors to consider for responsible adoption.

Maple Leaf Foods Hosts 15th Annual Food Safety Symposium

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 14:12:48 -0400

The event focused on the alignment and intersection of food safety culture and best practices to control Listeria monocytogenes and prevent foodborne illness.

Trends and Tips for Food Businesses Regarding California Consumer Claims

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400

A massive wave of consumer class actions targeting food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers is sweeping across industries as the plaintiffs' bar aggressively targets product labeling and advertising under California's consumer protection statutes. Companies should be aware of these practices and develop a plan to lessen the risk of receiving such claims.

Managing an Underappreciated Resource: Pallets

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:00:00 -0400

It is essential that food processors establish a properly documented pallet management program to prevent issues caused by improper pallet use, storage, inspection, maintenance, and cleaning.

From Corporate to Corner Store: Retail Food Safety Practices in Small Businesses and How They Compare with Large Brands

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

This article discusses the results of a survey conducted by the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) on the states of food safety culture and the use of food safety management systems among smaller-scale foodservice establishments in the U.S.

Breaking Silos to Safeguard Our Plates: Why Food Safety, Nutrition, and Public Health Should Collaborate More

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:00:00 -0400

The threats to food safety are evolving, and so must our approaches. The traditional boundaries between safety, nutrition, and public health are increasingly artificial—and increasingly counterproductive.

Pledge, Resources for National Food Safety Month From Partnership for Food Safety Education

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:05:54 -0400

In recognition of National Food Safety Education Month (NFSEM), which takes place each September in the U.S., the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) is holding a Collective Day of Action on September 18.

The Importance of Human Skills and Digital Systems in Monitoring Food Safety

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400

As reliance on digital tools increases, it is essential to recognize human skills in maintaining high food safety standards.

The Strategic Importance of Food Industry Conferences

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Industry conferences play a critical role in addressing skills gaps by providing access to leading research, regulatory updates, and best practices. They serve as a platform where professionals can engage in meaningful discussions about the challenges they face, exchange ideas, and collaborate on solutions.

Building a Rigorous Calibration Program

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Calibration is really a verification activity. The goal of a calibration program is to ensure that all instruments used to monitor food safety, quality, and issues related to regulatory compliance have been properly calibrated and are operating effectively.

Hygiena: Optimizing Data for Improved Food Safety Risk Management and Compliance

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 02:30:00 -0400

In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Mark Carter, Senior Software Product Manager at Hygiena and President of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), about how centralized and visualized data reinforces food quality and safety compliance and risk management.

Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Hosting Four In-Person Dairy Plant Food Safety Workshops in 2025

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:47:15 -0400

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy is offering four in-person food safety training opportunities throughout 2025, designed to help the dairy industry strengthen contamination control practices to protect consumers from foodborne illness.

New Zealand Food Safety Publishes Guide for Business Leaders on Culture, Maintaining Standards

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 13:58:51 -0400

New Zealand Food Safety has published an updated Food Safety Good Governance Guide for Directors, to help the boards of food companies create a strong food safety culture and ensure food safety standards are being met.

Ep. 188. Dr. Kimberly Baker: Educating Small Manufacturers on Food Safety Compliance and Best Practices

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 02:30:00 -0500

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Dr. Kimberly Baker, a food safety expert with the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, about her focus on foodborne pathogens and recall prevention, as well as the Food2Market program that helps small food entrepreneurs comply with food safety regulations.

The Importance of Internal Audits

rickstier4@aol.com (Richard F. Stier, M.S.) — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0500

An internal audit is an intensive assessment of all elements making up the food safety management system. It helps determine if the system is effective and is being properly maintained.

Penn Sate Offers Online Course on Listeria Control for Food Processors

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 13:26:12 -0500

Penn State is offering an online, self-paced course for the food industry on the risks posed by Listeria monocytogenes and how the pathogen can be controlled.

Building a Skilled and Capable Workforce for the Food Industry: Simplifying Food Safety Language

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0500

Improving food safety practices does not necessarily require a complete overhaul of systems. Sometimes, the solution lies in simplifying the language we use.