Focus on Food Safety: Food safety in a time of uncertainty
Article By Dr. Amy Proulx Published May 1, 2025
Article Source: https://www.foodincanada.com/opinions/focus-on-food-safety-food-safety-in-a-time-of-uncertainty/
Uncertainty is one of the most certain things in our current political and regulatory landscape. Many food companies face significant dilemmas: tariffs, shifting import and export requirements, uncertainty in inspection from U.S. partners and economic uncertainty affecting costs. Drastic changes have been made to food safety systems in the U.S., and this impacts the Canadian sector. So it is crucial for us to stay informed.
Reduced inspections and oversight
Cutbacks have hit food inspection regulators in the U.S. With fewer USDA and FDA staff, there will be fewer inspections of food production facilities, less monitoring of safety protocols and potentially longer intervals between audits. This could increase the risk of contaminated or unsafe food reaching the market. A lack of oversight could heighten risks of microbiological hazards and allow for an increased probability of recalls.
Delays in regulatory approvals and guidance
With government staff cuts, there’s likely to be a slowdown in reviewing food safety management plans, processing permits and providing technical guidance. The U.S. traditionally had one of the world’s best government-funded agri-food extension and education systems, but cutbacks to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture will reduce food safety extension programming. Cutting government experts will slow progress and limit new product launches.
Inconsistent enforcement
When agencies lose experienced personnel, the consistency and quality of regulatory enforcement can suffer. Different inspectors may interpret guidelines differently, leading to confusion and inconsistent compliance expectations. Companies exporting to the U.S. may be challenged, as aligning with FSMA or USDA requirements could become more complicated if the standards aren’t enforced uniformly.
Weaker oversight increases the chance of undetected food safety issues. If a company’s product causes an outbreak or recall due to insufficient monitoring or guidance from regulatory bodies, the financial and reputational damage could be severe.
Impact on international trade
Canada is already noting reduced confidence in U.S. imports, while Canadian exports have temporarily remained strong because of the current low value of the Canadian dollar. In terms of international exporting, the United States provided some of the most widely adopted food safety assurances. If USDA and FDA oversight weakens, other nations may question the safety of American food products, leading to additional scrutiny, testing or trade restrictions. This could complicate export opportunities for U.S. food companies.
Staying the course
When food companies are facing financial uncertainty, high-cost activities are often cut. Finance professionals view food safety as an expense but that is wrong. Food safety and QA reduce manufacturing errors, waste and the risk of costly recalls. By reducing errors, productivity increases, thereby improving profitability. Food safety and QA teams should reflect on their own productivity to continue demonstrating their value to the company.
As a less populous country with a disproportionately large emphasis on agriculture and food products for export, Canada often relies on its largest trading partners to inform food safety and regulatory frameworks. In the current political climate, we cannot be reliant on the U.S. for consistency and steadiness in policy.
Building new collaborations
The system functions because the scientific community builds consensus across a diversity of expert opinions and research from global organizations. Historically, the United States played a major role in defining our consensus for food safety, but it’s time for Canada to step up and fill the void. In today’s unstable government landscape, we must collaborate with our allies in the European Food Safety Authority, the United Kingdom Food Standards Authority, Food Standards Australia New Zealand and other industrialized countries, along with the United Nations World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization. Canada can take a major leadership role in this time. Our reputation for safety and stability is our strength in this uncertain time.
Dr. Amy Proulx is professor and academic program co-ordinator for the Culinary Innovation and Food Technology programs at Niagara College, Ont. She can be reached at aproulx@niagaracollege.ca.
This column was originally published in the Apr./May. 2025 issue of Food in Canada.