fbtechreview.comMAY 20258in myviewBy Adeniyi Odugbemi, Global Director - Food Safety, ADMVerification activities including measuring activities leading up to the true conditions of a food facility have been grouped within the concept of facility audits and inspections. Although the terms are used interchangeably, they mean different things. As food safety becomes a non-negotiable parameter in food facilities, definitions around auditing have been stated as "a systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence, and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit criteria are fulfilled." Essentially, inspection activities seek to uncover risky conditions and hazards that might lead to producing unwholesome food products, whereas audits tend to evaluate programs, procedures, and processes to ensure they meet the defined food safety goals and objectives. Audits are typically performed less frequently and by an external party to the business entity, whereas inspections are performed more often and typically by a party engaged in the business operation. With both concepts of audits and inspections, the goal is to not leave food safety to chance but to give food safety the priority it deserves in any food facility. The success of food manufacturing facilities and the brands they support relies on the strength and success of their food safety programs, and this is feasible through successful audit scores. Overall, the framework of audits and inspections activities focuses specifically on those requirements, criteria, procedures, activities, and data relating to the safe production and supply of food products.Facility audits involve uncovering lapses in operations, processes, procedures, and programs, whereas facility inspections involve evaluating people, places, conditions, equipment, and amenities within a food operation. With increased expectations for safe and quality food products, the conditions of food facilities where these food-handling operations take place continue to be important. Therefore, these audits and inspections set the expectation in assessing the facility's true conditions; management system; food processing, preparation, and storage processes; hygienic and sanitation conditions; facility design; employee hygiene requirements; and documentation and record-keeping procedures. An important benefit of auditing and inspecting food facilities is the ability to show transparency and traceability within the food supply chain, enhancing quality standards as well as improving efficiency, while also reducing hazards and risk. Auditing thus becomes a benchmark or best practice in the food industry to truly assess the conditions of food facilities and place them on a scale for continuous improvement. Audits are conducted as part of regulatory or government oversights, certification schemes, compliance assessments, industry standards, customer requirements, or internal facility assessments to provide evidence of meeting the rigorous food safety standards.Now more than ever, consumers continue to demand food products handled at locations that are clean, food RAISING FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS THROUGH AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS
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