Food safety is one of those phrases heard constantly around processing plants. Related points are high on the list during any inspection or audit; topics are constantly in the news of both trade and consumer publications; and its ongoing focus is a key responsibility for any QA manager. But these same QA managers know that food safety can, in no way, be the exclusive duty of the quality assurance department, rather it needs to be top of mind for all plant employees. But how do you keep it top of mind? Where do you find resources for training, internal publications, mail-slot brochures or wall postings – whether it’s on cleaning and sanitation or another food-safety focus?
According to industry sources and experts, the key resource of any plant should be the regulatory agencies, whose websites and printed publications contain information on new and upcoming regulations and industry trends. In addition, plants should utilize the resources of industry associations, university and extension programs, and consulting and auditing agencies. Following are the websites and contact information for some resources dedicated specifically to food safety education:
USDA
www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education
Though these pages are directed primarily toward consumers, they contain a great deal of information on food safety which can be adapted to food plants. In addition, the page enables single-click access to industry-oriented areas of the USDA site, including Regulations & Policies, Food Security and Emergency Preparedness, and full search capabilities. USDA also publishes a periodic newsletter, "The Food Safety Educator," that reports on new food safety education programs and materials and emerging food safety science. Individuals can subscribe to the print version for free, and electronic copies can be downloaded from the website (www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/food_safety_educator).
FDA
www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/industry.html
FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) developed an industry assistance program, one portion of which is an Information Materials for the Food and Cosmetic Industries catalog, which lists and describes materials available on all facets of the industry. Most of the materials, which include government and non-government publications, are available through web links which are grouped alphabetically by subject, then link to further lists of publications. FDA provides this information, the site says, because FDA understands that government regulations can be complex and its philosophy includes prevention through assistance as a complement to legal action. CFSAN’s information staff can also be reached by phone at (301) 436-2600.
National Food Safety Information Network
Maintained by FDA/CFSAN, FoodSafety.gov is a "gateway website" providing links to selected government food safety information, as determined by a steering committee of individuals with different backgrounds. The site includes pages dedicated specifically to industry information, including Industry Assistance, National Food Safety Programs, as well as links to news and safety alerts, foodborne pathogens, government agencies and a general search index.
International Food Information Council (IFIC)
IFIC is supported primarily by the broad-based food, beverage and agricultural industries; its mission is to communicate science-based information on food safety and nutrition. The council provides a bi-monthly Food Insight Newsletter, which is available on the website along with a glossary of food-related terms, and publications including educational booklets and brochures, Questions & Answers, and Fact Sheets, some of which can be read online and others which can be ordered in print form.
AIB International
Clicking the Food Safety Education link on AIB’s home page will take you to links for seminars and training available from AIB as well as its Food Defense Resource Center – including articles, posters, guidelines and other helpful links, and general resources (sidebar link) which includes listings of books available from AIB.
International Association for Food Protection (IAFP)
With a mission statement to "provide food safety professionals worldwide with a forum to exchange information on protecting the food supply," IAFP is comprised of 3,000 member food-safety professionals from 50 nations. The association provides members with information on the latest scientific, technical and practical developments in food safety and sanitation, an information network, and two scientific journals: Food Protection Trends and Journal of Food Protection. The organization’s site also includes a listing of publications; most are available in print for a fee, but some can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format at no cost.
University and Extension Services
The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) provides contact information for local extension offices around the U.S. Its website includes a link through which you can click your state, then area, for the office closest to you. In addition, the service provides an abundance of information on agriculture and animal and animal products which can be browsed online, as well as extension service news and program information.
International HACCP Alliance
The alliance, which is housed at Texas A&M University’s Department of Animal Science, was developed to provide a uniform program to assure safer meat and poultry products. The website includes information on the latest news, "hot topics," food safety information and access to the Alliance News Lines newsletter.
National Center for Food Safety and Technology (NCFST)
Providing a forum for the industry to interact with FDA, NCFST’s site includes links to food-safety-related technical briefs, its Food Safety Watch newsletter and listings of staff publications. The center also provides industry seminars and training programs, with information of upcoming programs listed on the site.
Business.com
www.business.com/directory/food_and_beverage/food_safety_and_testing/
The business.com website is a business-focused search engine which provides a directory of businesses with more than 400,000 listings in 65,000 industries. The above listed page is specific to food and beverage food safety and testing; but in addition to the standard business listings, it also includes a variety of links to university, government and international resources.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Your employees may feel like they’ve heard the same food-safety spiel a million times. But when you detail to the specifics of the effects of listeriosis, list the number of cases of salmonella or project photos of affected children, you can make things hit home and seem more real, thus effecting a culture change. QA
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