Food safety is evolving. With the passing of the Food Safety Modernization Act, progressing technology, and more
people developing food allergies, staying informed and trained on the latest trends and studies is essential in the food safety industry. When management is committed to creating a food safety culture, recalls and market withdraws are reduced, efficiencies are increased, and costs are lowered.
“You cannot have food security without food safety.” This was the declaration of the first ever International Food Safety Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 12-13. The conference, hosted by the African Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization brought together government officials, representatives of international and regional intergovernmental organizations and participants from civil society from around the world. This follows the recent UN declaration for a World Food Safety Day on June 7.
With World Food Safety Day on June 7, 2019, quickly approaching us, we’re reminded that there is no food security without food safety. SQFI supports World Food Safety Day because it increases awareness of the impact food safety has on the health of consumers, food security and nutrition, economic development for the food supply chain, and from supply chain sustainability standpoint. Unsafe food undermines food and nutritional security, human development, the broader food economy, and international trade.
As consumers, we also have a responsibility to ensure that the food that we consume is handled safely. There are several resources the UN provides in the event that we need a refresher on best practices. As food safety professionals, we can take advantage of training and conferences/industry meetings that provide solutions to food safety problems. SQFI offers many in-person and online training options for our stakeholders, and the SQF Conference is an excellent event to collaborate and receive practical solutions to food safety and quality questions.
Make sure to check out the poll in this month’s newsletter – SQFI will select one participant from our May Newsletter poll to receive one free SQF Training Course of his or her choosing hosted at the 2019 SQF Conference in San Antonio.
Click here to view the May Newsletter
We encourage you to participate and engage in World Food Safety Day and enhance global food security and development in your world.
