What is a food safety management system?

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Food safety has been a recognized problem since ancient days but on a global scale date back to the development of the Codex Alimentarius over 60 years ago. Even so, some 420,000 deaths annually are attributed to food safety issues and 1 in 10 of the global population will fall ill each year. Consequently, regulations and societal demands are increasing, making food safety management along the whole supply chain very much of vital importance today to safeguard consumers and meet company ESG and UN SDG obligations.

Food safety management system: a definition

What is a FSMS? A food safety management system (FSMS) can be defined as a set of interrelated processes and best practices that organizations use to direct and control how food quality and safety management policies are implemented and food safety risks are managed.

Along the supply chain – from farm to fork as it is sometimes described – many organizations are involved before food is finally consumed. Each of these organizations play a part in the final product, making it vital to ensure that each link along the value chain is adopting food safety management to a recognized standard appropriate to the service or process they are engaged in, e.g. farm, logistics, manufacturing, food service or retail.

There are several food safety standards fit for purpose and those part of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarked standards as well as ISO 22000 cover the entire supply chain and are widely employed. Launched in the 2000s, GFSI is a business-driven initiative by a consortium of retailers, producers and consumers across the globe.

What is the purpose of a food safety management system?

The purpose of an FSMS is to provide a structured approach to producing safe food, which is critical to protecting public health and maintaining consumer confidence. It helps businesses comply with legal requirements, meet customer expectations for food safety, and manage and mitigate risks associated with foodborne illnesses. It can also contribute to feeding the planet and a more sustainable food chain by reducing food wasted due to food safety issues.

Although organizations are free to develop their own FSMS independent of any standard as long as it meets any regulations, other stakeholders and the wider society will likely demand the reassurance of a third-party certification to one or more of the recognized standards such as ISO 22000 and GFSI ones. Certification is therefore a ticket-to-trade for many organizations.

Why is a FSMS important?

A FSMS is important not least because it should help to reduce the annual toll of death and illness that occurs due to safety lapses in food production around the globe. Foodborne diseases have a significant negative impact on human life and economies generally and on the finances and reputation of organizations implicated. Aside from the cost of food product recalls and legal action, organizations will possibly need to destroy products and waste resources.

Reliable production of safe food on the other hand safeguards consumers and will see a business’s reputation enhanced and increase market access. This can be especially true for smaller organizations and newcomers hoping to qualify as a supplier.  Taking a structured approach to food safety management can reduce cost in the bigger picture and also allows for integration of the FSMS with other standards.

Establishing an FSMS involves staff at all levels and this can aid employee retention and job satisfaction as they understand the importance of their responsibility in protecting the food’s integrity and safety.

What are the key elements of a food safety management system?

Implementing an FSMS is a strategic decision for an organization that helps improve its overall performance in food safety, meet a customer requirement and create a solid foundation for sustainable development initiatives. A management system is a structured framework including the following key elements:

• Strategic Alignment
• Policies and Objectives
• Process Management
• Performance Measurement
• Compliance and Risk Management
• Continual Improvement

All the GFSI benchmarked food safety standards encompass common elements that are essential for the framework and operation of the FSMS.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)

HACCP is a systematic preventive approach to food safety that identifies physical, chemical, and biological hazards in production processes that can cause the finished product to be unsafe.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

GMP covers all aspects of production, from the starting materials, premises, and equipment to the training and personal hygiene of staff.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

SOPs are detailed, written instructions to achieve uniformity of the performance of a specific function.

Prerequisite Programs (PRPs)

PRPs are procedures, including Good Manufacturing Practices, that address operational conditions providing the foundation for the HACCP system.

Traceability and Recall Systems

These systems ensure that in the event of a problem, the food can be removed from sale quickly and efficiently, and the source of the problem can be identified.

Food Safety Culture

This refers to the attitudes, beliefs, practices, and values that determine what is happening when no one is watching, influencing food safety performance and compliance.

Certification to either ISO or other GFSI benchmarked standards follows a similar process. Neither body issues certificates directly but relevant accreditation bodies or scheme owners recognize certification bodies that approve the independent third-party certification bodies to certify organizations.

The process involves developing and implementing an FSMS which should undergo an initial internal audit before the chosen certification body comes in to carry out a certification audit. Internal and external audits will need to be done on a regular basis for the certification to remain valid.

Certification bodies such as DNV can assist from the beginning by providing Food Safety Training courses needed to help with initial understanding of the standards and their requirements, provide specialist training to develop internal auditors, and services and digital tools to asses gaps against the requirements in the chosen standard.