Food recalls have been becoming more frequent in Australia over recent years, with food products being recalled from sale for a variety of reasons, including incorrect labelling, food contaminants, foreign matter within the food, and so on. Businesses that have one or more of their food products recalled can be impacted detrimentally in several ways, including decreased profit margins, financial penalties, and reduced consumer confidence. For these reasons, it is crucial that all businesses that deal with food, at any point of the food supply chain, adhere to compliant food safety practices, to uphold their reputation as a safe company to purchase food from. This article will discuss how businesses can achieve and maintain their food safety goals through the implementation of a Food Safety Management System, which helps companies ensure their food safety practices are meeting compliant standards, and undergoing continual improvement.

ISO 22000 certification ensures food safety practices meet international standards

A simple, effective way for businesses working within the food industry to achieve the above goals is by implementing the ISO 22000 Food Safety Standards. This is an internationally recognised Business Management System that helps companies develop clear food safety practices across the entire food supply chain; from farm to fork. Through ISO 22000 certification, businesses can develop a straight-forward method for identifying and controlling food hazards. By following this clear, structured approach they can benefit in several ways, including keeping costs down, opening trading doors, and upholding their reputation as a safe company to purchase from. Through ISO 22000 certification, companies will audit their existing food safety practices against the ISO 22000 Standards, to determine what steps need to be taken to achieve food safety compliance, and mitigate contamination risks.

Further, by certifying to ISO 22000, businesses can utilise the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points principles to identify all critical areas within their operations that could potentially lead to food being contaminated, and then develop clear, compliant processes for mitigating the risks, ensuring their food remains hazard and contamination-free across the entire food supply chain.

ISO 22000 certification minimises the chances of food recalls

One of the central benefits of ISO 22000 certification is that the Standards require businesses to periodically audit their existing food safety practices against both the Standards and relevant food safety legislation, to ensure both are being upheld. By doing so, businesses are showing that they are committed to compliant food safety practices, and are continually reviewing their practices to ensure they are meeting their obligations.

This means that businesses will be regularly auditing their existing food safety practices to identify potential risks, hazards, and contamination threats, and then take proactive steps to mitigate them before food is contaminated, or the operations is impacted. The chances of having to undergo a recall of food products will be significantly minimised through ISO 22000 certification, as this proactive approach works at identifying and controlling risks before they can impact an operations.

Our food safety consultants can help with this process

Having to undergo a food product recall can be damaging for a company, as it can impact their reputation, profits, and consumer confidence. Therefore, it is important that all businesses that work with food implement effective food safety practices to ensure their food remains hazard and contamination free across the entire food supply chain. Many businesses may be interested in finding out how these Standards could be specifically applied to their operations, whether they are compatible with other ISO Standards, how it will specifically help them overcome their food safety challenges, and so on.

To help businesses get on top of this, on Wednesday, the 24^th of November, at 11am Melbourne time, Anitech will be hosting a free webinar on this topic, called Preventing Food Recalls, Protecting Your Business. Sabina and Renita, our food safety specialists, will be the speakers at this informative session, and they will both be providing key insight and case study examples about some common reasons for food recalls, and what businesses can be doing to protect themselves. It will be hosted via Zoom, and while it is a free session spots are limited, so please RSVP here at your earliest convenience, to secure your spot.

However, if you would like to get a head start on this process, then please contact our food safety consultants today by filling out this simple online contact us form, or by phoning them on 1300 802 163 for a quick, obligation-free consultation. All you need to do is tell them about some of the food safety challenges your company is concerned about and facing, and they can then explain to you how ISO 22000 certification can help your company successfully overcome them, prevent food product recalls, and remain a competitive industry player. Following this, they can then arrange for a food safety specialist to work closely with your operations to implement ISO 22000, helping it effectively achieve its food safety goals. Doesn’t that sound like an appetising prospect?

Please click here to learn more about how Food Safety certification helps companies achieve their goals.