As we approach the new year, it's always a good time to look back on the past year and anticipate what lies ahead. In 2019, several significant foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls highlighted the critical importance of farm-to-fork accountability. Many food processors responded by reassessing their own food safety protocols and those of their suppliers.
For instance, foreign material contamination led to the recall of over 11 million pounds of frozen chicken strips. Salmonella Uganda infections were linked to whole, fresh papayas, and an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was traced back to Romaine lettuce. These incidents underscored the need for enhanced food safety measures across the supply chain.
Looking forward to 2020, here are five trends that could shape the food safety landscape in North America:
1. **Regulatory Performance Metrics Driving FSMA Implementation**: The FDA has introduced a food safety dashboard called FDA-TRACK to monitor how effectively FSMA regulations are being implemented. This initiative aims to identify areas where improvements can be made to prevent foodborne outbreaks, recalls, and contamination. You can find more details on the FDA's official website.
2. **Focus on Modernizing Food Production Lines**: Agencies like FSIS-USDA are pushing for innovations in food production processes. For example, they have finalized a rule aimed at enhancing swine slaughter inspections without compromising public health protection.
3. **Regulations Influencing Regional Developments**: In the U.S., phased implementation of FSMA through targeted FDA Final Rules has marked progress. Similarly, Canada’s Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) came into effect earlier this year. Expect closer cooperation between the FDA and CFIA to harmonize food safety systems and facilitate seamless regional trade.
4. **Hygienic Design Becoming a Key Focus**: A new working group has begun exploring ways to integrate hygienic design principles with existing GFSI requirements. This effort seeks to promote broader adoption of these practices within industries benchmarked against GFSI standards like BRC and SQF.
5. **Entering a Smarter Era of Food Safety**: Frank Yiannas, the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy & Response, is leading efforts to leverage advanced technologies and best practices to create a more digital, traceable, and secure food safety ecosystem. Drawing from experiences at companies like Disney and Walmart, he emphasizes the necessity of ongoing dialogue with industry stakeholders.
Here are some key compliance dates to keep in mind for 2020 and beyond:
| Type | Details | Compliance Date |
|--------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| GFSI-based Standard | FSSC 22000 Version 5 | Auditable from Jan. 1, 2020 |
| U.S. FSMA Final Rules | Produce Safety rule for all produce types | Jan. 27, 2020 |
| | Foreign Supplier Verification Program for importers | March 17, 2020 |
| | Intentional Adulteration rule for small businesses | July 27, 2020 |
| Canadian SFCR Compliance | Written Preventive Control Plans for fresh fruit and vegetable facilities | Jan. 15, 2020 |
| | Licensing and traceability requirements for other food facilities | July 15, 2020 |
At Remco, we believe that choosing the right sanitary tools plays a crucial role in maintaining a clean and safe food production environment. Our range of food-safe products includes color-coded material handling and cleaning tools such as scoops, tubs, brushes, squeegees, and more. Learn more about our offerings at remcoproducts.com/products/.
For additional resources:
- [About FSSC22000 v.5](https://www.fssc22000.com/wp-content/uploads/19.0528-FSSC-22000-Scheme-Version-5.pdf)
- [FSMA Final Rule Key Dates](https://www.fda.gov/media/106390/download)
- [CFIA Presentation on Phased Implementation](https://www.inspection.gc.ca/)
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