What Is A Food Safety Management System?

Organizations and businesses that are associated with the production, distribution, preparation and the handling of foodstuff are susceptible to certain hazards, which can occur during any stage of the entire procedure. After considering a number of factors and taking into account all the hazards the regulatory authorities of most countries have stipulated that these organizations or businesses are required to have a Food Safety Management System in place to provide adequate safety for their produce and the general public at large.

A Food Safety Management System can be implemented by organizations and businesses to meet the requirements set forth by the regulator in accordance with the type of business they are involved in. There is a requirement to understand that the stipulations could be different for a producer, a manufacturer and for that matter even a retailer. However, it is the overall responsibility of the business concerned to ensure that the products delivered to the end consumer are safe for consumption and do not pose any kind of risk to them.

At this stage it would be honest enough to state that businesses and organizations could begin believing a FoodSafety Management System is just another problem, which will make it difficult for them to continue with their business activities. Implementing a Food Safety Management System is not just about having a few controls in place but needs a commitment from the business that they will at all times comply with the regulations which have been stipulated by the regulatory authority. They are obliged to have in place a mechanism, which will allow them to have systems that are established, operated and updated within the framework, which has a structured system of management and has also been incorporated within their overall activities of management.

The introduction of a Food Safety Management System within the framework of an existing business can sound like a complicated matter to most businesses. The system will need dedicated personnel who can monitor the raw material or the finished products of the business every step of the way and even ensure that they maintain adequate records, which can be verified by the supervisory body. There will definitely be certain costs involved which the organization could feel is not warranted. It is a certainty that the organization will have to set aside resources and the manpower necessary for the proper implementation and maintenance of the system. However, companies that are prepared to overlook the resources, which they will be required to expend, will stand to gain immensely because the system can be beneficial to them.

There is a strong belief among many that the presence of food borne hazards only affects the products at the point of consumption, which is truly not the case. Food safety hazards can occur during any stage of the food chain and therefore it is vital that adequate controls in place. A Food Safety Management System has been designed specifically for this purpose and the sole objective of the system is to ensure that the combined efforts of all parties within the food chain are taken into account. One of the foremost systems which have gained popularity throughout the world is the ISO 22,000 and has in place a system which is not just beneficial to the end client but also to all parties involved during different stages of the production and the handling.

A Food Safety Management System is not just a requirement for large companies because it can be implemented throughout the food chain. It must be understood that larger companies are generally not involved in the production of raw material and the risks of contamination of foodstuff is not limited to the supply chains of the products. Contamination of foodstuff can happen at any stage and the objective of the system is not just to prevent such incidences but also to have safeguards in place to ensure that the entire food chain is managed effectively. This is probably the best way for organizations and companies to ensure that they are not exposed to problems of any kind due to the mishandling of foodstuff during any stage of the production, handling and final delivery to the customer.

Do companies or organizations, which have been certified by ISO 20,000 or HA CCP, stand to benefit from the extra expenditure, which they are required to indulge in? This is an issue that has often been raised especially by entities that believed they had everything in place to carry on activities without having a Food Safety Management System. This could perhaps be sheer ignorance on their part because they would have failed to understand the kind of benefits which would be available to them simply because they decided in favor of having a safety system which will classify them as a better organization than the rest.

When companies and organizations do not consider having a Food Safety Management System in place, they are restricting their business opportunities to their individual localities. On the other hand having a system in place will open up a whole set of avenues for them which will assist them to expand their business throughout the country and even venture out into the international markets. At the same time, they will also have an opportunity to instill a better sense of confidence among their clientele simply by having a certificate, which will prove that they provide adequate attention to the quality of the products, or services, which they are distributing. Consumers will be pleased to note that they are dealing with a certified company and purchasing products, which are safe for consumption. The benefits of having a Food Safety Management System are manifold and therefore all companies and organizations involved in this business can benefit immensely simply by following a structured management system.

A Food Safety Management System may very well be considered as an unwanted hassle, which will only bring untold miseries on the applicant. However, certain countries have made it a stipulation, which needs to be followed without exceptions while countless others are still in the process of developing systems, which are suitable for them. Regardless of belief, which could be held by companies, food handlers and retailers, there is a need to understand that the requirement of a Food Safety Management System is a matter that cannot be ignored and is better implemented from the very onset.

Disaster Can Strike When Food Safety Management Systems Are Not Implemented

The subject of food safety has been receiving plenty of attention over the last few years especially after a number of incidents were reported. Some of the incidents even caused fatalities while the others hospitalized a number of people. After giving the matter the consideration it deserves the authorities have presently stipulated that all businesses within the food chain must have a Food Safety Management System to safeguard against risks of any kind. They have considered risks due to human errors and also because of allergens, which could be present within the food chain. Several countries have now made it mandatory for all businesses involved in the production, processing, transportation and storage of food stuff to have in place a Food Safety Management System and have also stipulated penalties for organizations that do not do so.

The authorities have stipulated the kind of businesses, which must have Food Safety Management System within their workplace. The list provided is exhaustive and even covers businesses which can be involved in the production of raw material, the ingredients to be used for the cleaning of raw material, the handling of products during the preparation and after and finally even the transportation of the finished products. The sole objective of this system is to provide the consumer a product, which he or she can trust and have without the fear of contamination. While the controls mentioned by the authorities certainly look difficult it is well known that food safety risks exist and they can easily be eliminated if the organization or the business is prepared to take the steps needed. A number of companies and organizations have abided by the law and are presently benefiting from the investment they made to have Food Safety Management System in place.

The primary responsibility for managing the system effectively rests with the management of a company and therefore a Food Safety Management System is just as effective as the management of the organization. An organization can invest sums of money to implement the guidelines, which have been provided and also make regular efforts to upgrade the system. However, the entire effort will come to naught if the management of the organization does not provide the proper attention and keep in regular touch with the happenings within the organization. In fact disaster can strike as it has done with the Peanut Corporation of America where an outbreak of salmonella in 2008 caused fatalities among nine Americans and hospitalized over 700. The CEO of the company along with the quality assurance manager and other management staff was sentenced to a combined total of 53 years in prison leading to the company becoming defunct. Under the circumstances, would it not be preferable to have an effective Food Safety ManagementSystem in place rather than risk a prison term or even closure of the organization?

Looking at the kind of penalties that an organization or its executives could face it would be better to conclude that most would prefer to have A Food Safety Management System despite being required to invest resources and manpower and remaining in touch with the matter of food safety with utmost responsibility. The managements of most organizations do not prefer to have a set of controls placed upon them simply owing to their belief that it would hamper the profitability of the company. These matters are highlighted within the litigation with PCA when it was revealed that the management knowingly shipped tainted products to the market and had even tempered with records from the lab. Therefore the better option for organizations would be to make a small investment to implement Food Safety Management System and to say no to the risks.

When the matter of implementing Food Safety Management System is discussed organizations do not have to worry that they will be obliged to bring in major changes that can affect their overall functionality. They need to have in place a system of controls, which will reduce the risks, which they could be facing. The management of the organization must also consider the fact that the system must be indoctrinated within all its staff members without whom the implementation would become awkward. Applying the criteria listed under HACCP and implementing it to the fullest will also make it better for the organization to understand how matters related to food safety can be easily managed. HACCP will provide the organization with the information that is needed to manage risks of all kinds and even have critical control measures in the event of any accidents.

The organization can consider implementing these measures without external assistance or decide to have a professional draw up a custom-designed plan for their requirements. There will certainly be some costs involved when the services of a professional are enlisted. However, he or she will be able to consider the requirements of the company, design a plan specifically for them and even have them successfully audited to be certified as an organization, which is compliant with the requirements. Organizations must understand that they will be required to train their staff and management to follow every stipulation, which has been mentioned by the regulatory authorities.

Organizations that are certified as compliant with Food Safety Management Systems can rest assured that they will have new opportunities opening up for business. The certificate provided is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative and therefore the benefits which organizations can get is manifold. They will be given the opportunity to participate in businesses internationally where they had never ventured out earlier. It will also give their customers a message that the organization makes all the efforts needed to safeguard the interests of their consumers. This will be a credible initiative on the part of the organization and will not lead them into any kind of disaster.

Not having Food Safety Management System in place or not paying proper attention to it can lead to a disaster while the reverse will be true for organizations that are willing to believe in the policy of "zero risk" and continuing their business after considering the requirements of their clients before the profitability of the organization. The principle can be sometimes difficult to adhere to but is definitely a requirement if organizations are part of the food chain.