While We Wait on Congress...

While we wait and wait and wait on Congress to pass food safety reform, food manufacturers are doing our part to effect change right now, right away.  We're taking the lead. 

It should go without saying - but I'll take a moment to remind you - the food industry is ultimately responsible for the safety of its products.  Period.  End of story.  If we don't produce the safest products possible, we won't be in business for very long.  Needless to say, consumer confidence and product safety is our number one priority.  Without it nothing else we do is possible.

So, while we wait on Congress, there are things we can and are doing right now that improve food safety right away:

1.) Products Recall Modernization: The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and GS1US, with the support of GMA, have developed and launched an electronic, Web-based product recall portal that facilitates the rapid and accurate flow of information between manufacturers and retailers during product recalls.  Enhanced communication ensures that recalled products are removed from the marketplace as quickly as possible.

2.) Accredited Third Party Food Safety Audit Certification: Third party audits are an important part of America's food safety net.  To ensure rigor and integrity in third party certification, policymakers and industry leaders should encourage the engagement of auditors employed by certification bodies accredited to international standards by recognized organizations such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

3.) Modernization and Implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices: FDA is in the process of updating and issuing its GMPs regulations for food, which are a critical component of our nation's food safety system.  The issuance of updated GMPs is essential and GMA is committed to providing industry-wide training and education to ensure rapid and wide-spread adoption of the new and improved GMPs.

To read more check out Prevention, Partnership and Planning: Supply Chain Initiatives to Improve Food Safety.