Grocers to Reinvest in Food Safety Culture

A leading food retailer drives food safety leadership through preventative measures, not just checking off items on a checklist

FREMONT, CA: The average grocery shopper takes food safety for granted. The reason? Traders trust retailers to follow preventative food safety practices. The poultry industry had been working hard to raise safety standards in the U.S. before the recent bird flu outbreak hit the country—and the rising egg prices that affected consumer budgets.

Negligence in food safety can undermine trust. During 2022 alone, 26 outbreaks of foodborne illness were investigated by the FDA due to contamination. Imagine a major outbreak of E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria in your store. Poorly handled, a situation like this could erode brand loyalty that has been built over many years. 

Food safety—and, by default, any legislation about food safety—is too dangerous to take lightly. A grocer who plays the long game knows that rapid global change always necessitates rapid retailer adjustment, especially regarding legal compliance.

Is your store prepared for an outbreak? Consider a high-risk food: What were the receiving and shipping details? What products in the store should be removed, and how quickly can this information be provided? What steps does the organization take to ensure that shoppers who might have been affected have access to key information?

In expedited removal, the ability to identify high-risk foods quickly and accurately is developed by understanding where high-risk goods are sold and transformed within your operation.

Nearly a decade ago, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) brought food safety policy and foodborne illness prevention to the forefront of retail. A refocusing of FSMA section 204, which outlines the importance of tracing high-risk foods through the supply chain and into retail establishments, occurred in 2023.

The Use of a Preventative Food Safety Checklist

Conduct a complete data analysis: Shining a light on food traceability begins with understanding your organization's current data state. Analytical insights are critical in responding to recalls accurately and promptly and establishing traceability so transparently that every part of the store is visible and accounted for during an outbreak.

Can you access accurate and timely data elements that impact your overall operations? What is the current state of data collection versus the future state of data collection? Is the supplier ready to provide data and Track and Trace events? In strategizing for the future, assessors should consider data that exists today and data that is required in the short-term and a long-term vision. 

Using technology solutions here is crucial: they can automate collecting all the data needed to reach total compliance while laying the groundwork for future data collection.

Make gaps a priority: Key data elements support current regulations and future legislation, including assessing suppliers' ability to provide them.

What are the methods for identifying high-risk foods? What is the retailer's plan for capturing and referencing data once received?

Pinpoint technology gaps: What tech functionality is required, and in what areas? It is important to consider technology needs across all areas impacted, considering where you are now and where you need to be in the future.

Develop a roadmap: Technology-enabled traceability requirements will continue to evolve over the next few years, so your roadmap should include both current readiness and future strategies. Expanding beyond high-risk foods may require traceability capabilities closer to the consumer. Retailers should feel empowered to support current and future traceability initiatives, including understanding FSMA's impact on Track and Trace events and overall compliance.