Food Safety Standards Benefit Consumers and Food Providers Alike
Numerous deadly outbreaks over the past few years, such as e. coli and salmonella, have created a groundswell of demand for enhanced food safety processes. That outcry is being answered by the implementation of stricter standards and (in the U.S.) the Food Safety Modernization Act. The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) was launched in 2000 with the purpose of benchmarking existing and new standards to create pragmatic food safety guidelines that are universally recognized. All GFSI approved standards address identifying and managing food hazards and risks, traceability through food distribution channels, and implementing effective methods for food recall when problems are detected. These standards apply not only to growers and food providers, but also to every step of the global food supply chain. The goal is to prevent contaminated food from reaching consumers and to quickly recall spoiled goods while identifying and correcting the source of any problem. GFSI endorsed standards cu...