Bacterial Detection White Papers & Articles

41. Ensuring Confidence In GFSI: Maintaining Value And Credibility Of Benchmarked Schemes 3/14/2017

    In early March, I had the opportunity to sit on a panel discussion with several GFSI stakeholders, representing all aspects of the GFSI certification process. Moderated by Neil Marshall, global director of quality & safety strategy policy and programs at Coca-Cola; and Chris Lomauro, quality manager at General Mills, our conversation rotated around this scenario: a brand owner found an issue with a supplier who has been previously audited and certified to a GFSI benchmarked program.

42. Debunking 5 FSVP Myths 3/6/2017

    Compared to the training requirements in the Preventive Controls Rule, and certainly in the Produce Safety Rule, the requirement — or even mere suggestion — that someone take a course in order to be able to comply with the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) Rule is non-existent. Why then, has every FSVP training course I’ve taught been sold out?

43. How FSMA Is Changing Hazard Analysis 3/1/2017

    Now that FSMA implementation has begun, there are several questions on what are the best approaches to develop risk-based food safety plans with preventive controls for compliance with these new regulations. Several terms have been clarified by FSMA, including the definition of a food facility. The actual definition of “hazard,” which is quite a technical definition, has also been expanded with these new regulations.

44. 6 Things Big-Box Retailers Look For When They Tour Food Manufacturing Facilities 2/16/2017

    When a big-box retailer tours a food manufacturing facility to vet the company’s operations, every process needs to be fully optimized and prepared for scrutiny. Below are the essentials that need to be covered to meet the needs of big-box retailers.

45. Time To Update Your Listeria Playbook: The FDA’s Draft Guidance Is Making Waves 1/31/2017

    The FDA recently released draft guidance (the “Guidance”) on controlling Listeria monocytogenes (LM) and ready-to-eat foods (RTE) in conjunction with the final rule, Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF rule). Any FDA-regulated facility that manufacturers, processes, packs, or holds RTE foods needs to take the time to read this new draft Guidance. Why?  For three reasons. First, as we all know, draft guidance can often take years before it turns to final guidance, and in the interim, FDA inspectors still rely on it as gospel. Second, whether it’s considered draft or final by the FDA, we all know the reality is guidance is often treated like directive, which in turn is often treated just like regulation. If we don’t follow it, we have a lot of explaining to do. Third, there are a few waves contained in this guidance that we, as an industry, all need to be aware of now!

46. A Food Recall’s Ripple Effect: What We’ve Learned From Valley Milk Products 1/24/2017

    The Valley Milk Products recall resulted in a subsequent ripple effect of recalls affecting over 30 companies. As this food safety event has played out over the last several months, it has also raised several questions on how the industry should react and handle these types of chain-reaction-like recalls.

47. 5 Questions To Ask For Effective Food Safety Training 12/21/2016

    All departments of any company — accounting, production, quality assurance, upper management, etc. —need training. But, how important is training in the role of food safety? In a word: vital.

48. Food Irradiation Technologies: Principles, Commercial Advantages, And Limitations 12/15/2016

    Food irradiation has proven to be a safe and effective non-thermal process for enhancing food safety and extending shelf life of a wide variety of foods. Nearly 50 countries have approved or allow food irradiation, although the foods and doses can differ by country. Gamma irradiation technology was patented more than a century ago (in 1906) and has been one of the first non-thermal technologies thoroughly tested, validated, and adopted by medical and food industry over the past 60 years. Despite this, there is a lot of misunderstanding and concerns associated with the consumer acceptance, transport, storage, occupational hazards, and disposal of radiation sources.

49. 3 Must-Have Qualities Of A Successful Food Safety Program 11/18/2016

    Food safety is a team sport; you can have the best programs in the world, but it takes people to carry out those programs. Many food safety programs fail for one very simple reason: there is not a culture fostered that promotes food safety at every level. From the very top, throughout the entire organization, there needs to be a commitment to food safety and a commitment to continuous improvement. 

50. Food Safety And Brexit: What Lessons Are Being Learned? 11/16/2016

    Earlier this year, the U.K. voted to leave the EU. Ensuing events of the Brexit vote have been characterized by frustration and uncertainty in the near and far future as the U.K. will now go at it on their own after 43 years in the EU. This represents a distinct turning point in European history and the implications on the U.K. are expected to be radical. One particular issue, food safety, did not receive much consideration during the Brexit campaign. What will be done to fill in where the EU left off? Ambivalence over what the U.K.’s legislative framework will resemble has caused more than a little anxiety, but along with the bigger political issues there is still opportunity for the U.K. to enhance food safety regulation and re-instill confidence in its food system.