Remember tainted spinach?
Everyone remembers the spinach scare from last year. Health officials eventually confirmed the deaths of three people and the illness of 200 others across 39 states and into Canada. This was caused by spinach tainted with a strain of E. coli. In March 2007, the source was traced to a single farm in California. Also in 2006, a popular brand of peanut butter containing salmonella caused illness in 290 people across 39 states. The recall cost to the manufacturer is estimated at $50 - $60 million. As we all know, the costs are still mounting in the current pet food recall.
The spinach tragedy reminds us that food safety incidents in one localized area can quickly become a major concern internationally. The global trade in food products coupled with consumers’ demands for fresh products can have devastating effects if E. coli (or any of a number of other pathogens) are along for the ride.
These headline grabbing incidents keep consumers attention focused on the safety of our food supply chain. What can be done by wholesalers and retailers of food products to prevent such happenings?
Leading food service companies and grocery distributors protect themselves by:
- Implementing a recognized HACCP or HACCP based program into their operations and having it verified by an independent third party.
- Qualifying suppliers and requiring independent verification of the supplier’s food safety practices.
- Educating customers on how to mitigate the potential dangers associated with fresh and ready-to-eat (RTE) products
- Educating staff on the perils of poor sanitary and hygiene practices and on the proper temperatures to cook and store food products that may present a hazard
- Having a complete and tested food product Recall Program
- Ensuring all incoming and outbound food products are transported by carriers who have implemented a valid HACCP program
- Continuously monitoring food safety message boards and government websites dedicated to food safety and recall alerts.
Canada has one of the safest food supplies in the world. The Canadian Food Safety Enhancement Program (FSEP) is internationally recognized as one of the world’s best. Even so, education and awareness are key elements to avoiding potentially fatal food safety incidents.
