SafetyChain Blog

In recent decades, terrorism has taken on a new identity. Since the September 11 attacks in 2001, terrorists have found new ways to threaten and harm the U.S. population. A September 2017 Newsweek article stated that ISIS supporters called for the poisoning of food in grocery stores across the U.S. and Europe. While the claim was not substantiated, it cannot be ignored. The food and beverage industry must do its part in taking a proactive role against threats and maintaining food safety throughout the nation.

While Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification has far-reaching benefits for food manufacturers and processors, aligning your entire food safety management program with rigorous GFSI compliance standards can be challenging. Whether you’re considering certification for your facility or you’re simply looking to brush up on some best practices, here are the five most noteworthy challenges of GFSI compliance to consider.

Blog post courtesy of Eric Hansen, Director of Technical Solutions, SafetyChain Software.

The Food and Drug Administration does not currently recognize cannabis as legal, so no federal standard exists for regulation of cannabis edibles. And yet, it is safe to assume that if you are running a cannabis edibles operation, your business will be subject to regulation sooner rather than later.

For our September 2018 session, Christopher Snabes, MS, CFS, Senior Food Safety Director with The Acheson Group, joined SafetyChain for an update on current FSMA activities and to provide an overview of best practices for Hazard Analysis.

GFSI certification can help your company improve its food safety and quality outcomes, secure a competitive place in the market, and maintain a positive brand reputation. Yet, effectively managing GFSI requirements using your company’s existing resources can add new challenges. To combat these challenges, many companies are implementing food safety technology.

The factors that impact your organization’s approach to risk management span far and wide. Keep in mind that each organization – and even each facility – will be affected by risk factors in unique  ways. Here, we take a brief look at six different types of risks that impact food and beverage companies. 

The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has been called the most sweeping reform of U.S. food safety laws in seven decades. Its main purpose is to protect public health using a proactive, instead of reactive, approach to food safety. FSMA also granted the FDA new enforcement authorities to improve compliance with prevention- and risk-based food safety practices. Because it encompasses such a robust overhaul of food safety regulation, efforts to finalize laws and put legislation into effect have been ongoing since FSMA was signed into law in 2011.

The food and beverage industry has been modernized by technology in recent years, but among the most groundbreaking developments of all is blockchain recall traceability. This powerful form of distributed ledger technology makes it possible for food and beverage companies to digitize the full scope of their program data for enhanced traceability, and ultimately, better results. Here are a few need-to-know facts about the newest breed of solutions for the food industry.

Effective food supplier management is a resource-intensive endeavor for food and beverage companies. Ensuring your suppliers are aligning with the food safety regulations and customer requirements your facility must follow is no easy task. While manufacturers and processors have historically relied on offline systems to oversee vendor management, many are finding that web-based tools can transform their processes to drive efficiency and compliance.

Risk is an inherent aspect of owning and operating a business, but it is especially complex in the food and beverage industry. From disruptions in the supply chain to food contamination, there are many things that can go wrong. Risk management for food is an all-encompassing endeavor. Although it may be challenging, it isn’t impossible to achieve. Here are four key considerations for minimizing risks in your facility.