[View Point] We're All in This Together

The more involved I get in this industry and the more I write about the middle steps of the food chain—the more I learn that there is always more to learn.

I have written for QA magazine since 2005, its second year of publication. At that time I was freelancing for PCT, QA’s sister publication at GIE Media. Since publisher Dan Moreland knew I had background in the food industry, he asked if I could write an article on biofilm for the new QA publication.

Without hesitation, I responded, "Sure! I can do that."

And the first thing I did when I got off the phone? Jump on the Internet to search: What the heck is biofilm?

I have learned a great deal since then—about the negatives of biofilm, pathogens, allergens and other contaminants; and the positives of the processes and practices being conducted for quality assurance and food safety. I have greatly enjoyed my visits to food plants, my interviewing of subject experts, my delving into subjects unknown to me. And through it all, I continue to learn that I have a lot to learn.

I have also learned that I am not alone in that. This industry is so vast, so ever-changing, it’s virtually impossible for any one person to have a complete understanding of all the aspects of quality assurance or food safety.

You may be the industry expert on beef production … but what might you be able to learn about cheese? You may have a lifetime of knowledge in microbiology, but could you advise a client on regulations? I may now be able to fluently discuss biofilm, but I had no idea that distribution could be so complex before I visited U.S. Foodservice (page 12). And I would certainly have had a few errors in the lab articles (page 44) had the sources not done a fact-checking review for me. We all have our specialties, but we all have a great deal to learn from one another.

As I’ve been writing this column, a lyrical phrase has been popping in and out of my head. So, as is my wont, I Googled the lyrics. Though the source brought an ironic grin and hesitation to admit I actually know this song, I leave it with you as it’s not a bad thing to associate our continuing quest for knowledge with our high school years and the benefits we can gain by working together.

from "High School Musical":

"We’re all in this together …

We’re not the same,

We’re different in a good way.

… We make each other strong.

We’re all in this together."

The author is Managing Editor of QA magazine. She can be reached at llupo@giemedia.com.