Page 12 - FMT Magazine, September 2020

Food Safety

Food Safety Culture

and its Elements

By Sumedha Jalgaonkar*

INTRODUCTION
A new buzz word “food safety culture” has become
very popular in food processing industries lately.
Along with the concepts of food safety compliance
and conformance, the most discussed concept in
food processing industry now a days is “food safety
culture”. One of the very important reasons for it is
introduction of the concept of food safety culture as A strong food safety culture helps a facility both to
part of the requirements of the standards like BRC, prevent and catch deviations in their processes that

SQF and other GFSI certification schemes. So when impact the safety, quality, and legality of their products
organizations start developing food safety culture, and also likelihood and severity of a recall impacting
they go with developing documentations like SOP, that site.
checklists and records for the same. Also when
auditor do assessments for food safety culture, food Just like the concept of PRP and HACCP, food safety
safety culture is judged by system, documentation, culture also proves to be “preventive measure” for
checklists and records for monitoring and verifi cation ensuring food safety in organization.
of effectiveness of food safety culture. However,
food safety culture is a “practical” concept more than Here is the list of a few important factors which are
a “theoretical” concept. Along with the objective crucial for developing, consistently maintaining and
evidences of SOPs, checklists and records, the food improving food safety culture of the organization:
safety culture will be judged by some practical
approach of the organization towards food safety. LEADERSHIP
For any organization, the culture in the organization
WHAT IS FOOD SAFETY CULTURE? is defined by the leaders/ top management of the

Food safety culture is the values of an organization with organization. Their awareness and actions decides
respect to food safety. The culture especially means the culture of organization positively or negatively.
“doing the things with responsibility, awareness and To give an example- one day while performing audit,
integrity even when no one is watching”. It is just not I was entering into a food processing area along with
about understanding of importance of food safety but the plant head. After completing all the essential
also knowing what is individual’s role in protecting it. activities in change room, we were just about to enter
processing hall. Suddenly a food handler came and
said to plant head “sir you are wearing wrist watch,
IN THE PRESENT SCENARIO, please remove it before entering the processing area”.
INFRASTRUCTURE & INDUSTRY PRESENCE I was astonished to see the reaction of plant head. He
FOR PROCESSING AND VALUE ADDITION said” Oh I am sorry. I almost forgot to remove it. Thank
you for reminding me before we enter the processing
OF SPICES IS MINIMAL HENCE FARMERS hall”. This is something we say demonstrating
ARE FORCED TO SELL THEIR FRESH/ RAW leadership while “lead by example”. Top management
PRODUCES AT LOW PRICES. need to first be aware enough to understand and

follow the practices and create suitable environment
for food safety to be followed by everyone in his/her

Food Marketing & Technology 12 September 2020