Intelleflex
Protecting consumers and brands from food safety scares
Food recalls have been prominent in recent news. What key steps should grocers and growers take to protect consumers and their brands?
Melanie Neumann, J.D., M.S. Sr. Director, Food and Import Safety, Leavitt Partners
The first key recall risk reduction strategy is having proper preventive controls in place to reduce the risk of causing a recall in the first place. The second key strategy is to have a robust recall and crisis management plan to guide you through the process of handling a recall should one occur. One last important take-away: documentation is more critical than ever. If there is one message I try to communicate to our clients it is that in the eyes of the regulators “if it isn’t documented it didn’t happen.”
Melissa Germain, Associate Director Cold Chain Research at Georgia Tech and Director of theAcademic Cold Chain Forum
Few consumers select their produce based on brand, therefore a food recall on a particular growers produce will affect all growers of that item. It is in the best interest of the entire industry to work together to minimize food recalls, as consumer confidence can be greatly diminished regardless of brand. Utilizing an effective traceability system will help growers and grocers trace contamination directly to the source, since most consumers will not know the brand they ate that caused the illness.
Dr. John Ryan, President, Ryan Systems
For those not yet convinced that the food world is in the middle of dynamic change, an attitude adjustment is in order. Rather than living in a state of arrogant denial, a more humble approach might be taken. Invite the local FDA, city or even food safety experts into the operation and give them a few hours to point out what might bother them during a recall or stop order. Let the chips fall where they may then remain idle or set some management priorities.
Mike Nicometo, Founding Member of FreshXperts
Posting real time supply chain data to shared databases provides visibility for “install recall” plus real time metrics to improve logistics. Consider how credit card transactions involving different buyers, vendors, products, currencies and cultures happen in near real time using common data transaction exchange. Studies have shown the ROI of real time supply chain visibility, where “instant and total recall” is a free by-product – not just added cost. Our industry needs a common transaction layer with real time logistics information.
Kevin Payne, Senior Director of Marketing, Intelleflex
For recalls, retailers and growers also need to think in terms of shopper loyalty, brand reputation, consumer liability and public safety. One study showed a recall costs $10 million plus brand damage and lost sales. It’s essential to automate the recall process with electronic traceability records so tainted product can be identified and destroyed in hours versus days or weeks.
For more information:
Kevin Payne
Intelleflex
Tel: +1 408-200-6567
Mob: +1 408-910-1726
kpayne@intelleflex.com