Food Safety Management

Posted : Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:00:34 GMT
Author : Deloitte 
Category : Press Release <http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/pg/0.html>

TORONTO, ONTARIO -- 01/14/10 -- The requirements and benefits of
superior food safety management extend far beyond onsite food plant and
production measures and protocols. According to a new report by Deloitte
entitled Safe to move: Food safety risks are rising, it's time for
action, food safety risks are rising and the challenges transcend the
entire food supply chain, from farmers and food producers, to
distributors, food service companies, product manufacturers, and
retailers. 

Food safety has become a critical issue for consumers, governments and
industry leaders. High profile crises such as Salmonella, Listeria, and
E. coli outbreaks and deaths amidst high profile food recalls have kept
food safety in the headlines and fueled public anxiety. According to
another recent Deloitte analysis of food and beverage processors across
North America, Benchmarking for Success 2009, 83% of consumers can name
a product that was recalled due to safety concerns in the last two
years; 76% of consumers report they are more concerned today than they
were five years ago about the food they eat; and 57% of consumers have
stopped eating a particular product because it was permanently or
temporarily recalled. And according to recent research conducted by IBM,
60% of today's consumers are concerned about the safety of the food they
eat, but less than 20% trust food companies to produce and sell safe
foods. 

"Globalization and increased consumer awareness have made food safety a
critical issue that must be addressed," says Stephen Brown, National
Leader, Consumer Products Industry, Deloitte. 

In fact, according to Benchmarking for Success 2009, among Canada's food
and beverage processors, 50% of survey respondents took concrete
measures towards improving food safety in 2008 - either working towards
a recognized safety certification and/or process improvement. More than
ever before, they are recognizing that companies encountering
significant food safety problems face potential remediation costs in the
tens or hundreds of millions of dollars and potentially irreparable
damage to their brand reputation. 

"Companies that take a broad view of food safety management and supply
chain integrity will have the most effective food safety programs," adds
Brown. "The traditional view of food safety as a plant management
responsibility is too narrow and does not take into account the cultural
and other organizational considerations that drive food safety
effectiveness." 

"While an increasing number of executives are recognizing the importance
of food safety, in many cases their responses have been limited by the
overwhelming size and scope of the problem," explains Brown. "The
reality is that food safety is a complex business challenge with many
interrelated parts and the challenge grows more complex all the time." 

Three steps to improvement 

In order for companies across the food value chain to develop
world-class food safety programs that will help mitigate risk in this
area, they must develop a comprehensive strategy that involves three
distinct steps: 

1. Assess the company's capabilities for preventing and responding to
food safety threats. 

This first step toward a comprehensive food safety program establishes
whether current handling practices, business processes, and information
systems meet the requirements for food safety, traceability, supply
chain integrity and regulatory compliance. Even companies with mature
food safety programs can benefit from a comprehensive assessment, which
identifies capability gaps and helps set priorities for improvement.
Once the improvement opportunities have been prioritized, a roadmap for
change can be developed. 

2. Build the governance, skills, processes and systems to improve food
safety capabilities. 

During the "build" phase, the company executes the roadmap to develop a
more integrated and safer approach. It may require fundamental cultural
changes, as well as investments in enabling technologies and processes.
Key activities might include: Making food safety a top management
priority, defining a vision for improving the organization's food safety
capabilities, hiring experts coupled with training to support these
resources, improving processes for crisis and incident management, and
establishing an effective performance measurement framework. 

3. Monitor risks and trends on a regular basis, adjusting the food
safety program to address significant changes. 

In the "monitor" phase, the company assesses and improves the
effectiveness of its food safety program on an ongoing basis. As new
threats to food safety emerge, and as leading practices, standards, and
regulatory requirements evolve, the company adjusts its food safety
program to address the changes. This enables the organization to
proactively identify and manage external risks and trends and improve
internal performance and capabilities. 

Two global trends driving improvement in food safety 

As companies increasingly seek to strengthen their approach to food
safety, two key trends are driving improvement and facilitating forward
movement in this area. First, universal principles are now emerging that
provide a clear and consistent direction for the future. For example,
the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an organization linked to the World
Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, with representatives from more than 180 countries, has
published the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point approach for
managing food safety risks. This approach is being adopted by government
agencies and industry organizations globally. Second, standards and
certifications are converging globally, making it easier and more
efficient for companies to comply. 

"In the past, companies often faced confusing and conflicting standards
and requirements from various industry groups and certifying bodies in
different jurisdictions, which made it harder for companies to take
action," says Brown. "But the emergence of common food safety standards
and transferable certifications give companies clearer direction and a
consistent set of requirements to satisfy." 

Obtain a copy of the report 

For a more detailed discussion of food safety management, changing
regulations, the emergence of international food safety guidelines, and
suggested courses of action, the full report Safe to move: Food safety
risks are rising, it's time for action is available at
www.deloitte.com/ca/food-safety-report. For a copy of Benchmarking
Success 2009, visit Deloitte.ca. 

About Deloitte 

Deloitte, one of Canada's leading professional services firms, provides
audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through more
than 7,700 people in 58 offices. Deloitte operates in Quebec as Samson
Belair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l. Deloitte & Touche LLP, an Ontario
Limited Liability Partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, and its network of member firms, each of which
is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see
www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure
of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and its member firms. 

Contacts:
Broad Reach Communications
Andrea Lekushoff
416-435-2569
alekushoff@broadreachcommunications.com