Positioning Your Company for Food Safety Success

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Positioning Your Company for Food Safety Success

• Bobby Palesano
• March 27, 2009

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What is food safety success?

• Scientifically supported food safety program.
• Compliance with all regulatory requirements.
• No recalls.
• No illnesses or injuries associated with your
  products.
• No customer complaints.
• And other plant specific measurements.

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Who is responsible?

• Suppliers safety starts with the incoming
  materials.
• Your establishment management and on-line
  workers.
• Customers and/or Consumers proper handling and
  preparations.
• The Agency inspectors, district personnel, and
  even headquarters.

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Suppliers

• No single sector stands alone.
• The hazard analysis shall include food safety
  hazards that can occur before, during, and after
  entry into the establishment.
• Suppliers may need to share information/data to
  help further processors support decisions.
• Suppliers and further processors must work
  together to ensure product safety.

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Your Establishment

• Must be able to explain and support all food
  safety decisions.
• Must understand the suppliers programs and know
  the intended use of your products.
• Should observe the process to ensure that the
  written programs are being implemented
  appropriately.
• Should update programs, as needed.

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Your Establishment

• Should develop purchase specifications to help
  you communicate with the supplier.
• Requested information from suppliers must be
  realistic and applicable to supporting decisions.
• Must know and fully understand implications of
  supplier testing programs, as well as those for
  your establishment.

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Customers and Consumers

• The hazard analysis shall include food safety
  hazards that can occur before, during, and after
  entry into the establishment. Therefore, you
  should know how your customers are using your
  products.
• Also have a responsibility for food safety.
• Should use proper handling and preparation.

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The Agency

• Is responsible for ensuring regulatory
  compliance.
• Should develop written policy.
• Should clearly and effectively communicate
  regulatory requirements and expectations to
  both inspection personnel and industry personnel.
• Must ensure that regulations are applied equally
  across all sectors.

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Cooperation Communication

• All industry sectors must work together not
  against each other.
• Industry, Agency and consumers have the same goal
  producing safe products.
• Everyone has specific responsibilities.

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Thank you!