In my blog last month, I offered a reflection on looking back at the food safety events of 2022. As a scientist, I like to watch things unfold and reflect on events that can change perspectives, drive technological developments and inform policies. Some of the issues we encountered in 2022 were an outbreak associated with home meal kits, a shortage of infant formula and an announcement of Salmonella as an adulterant. However, this month is a time to look forward! We know that 2023 will be driven in part by the events of 2022 and will also hold new challenges and opportunities for the food industry in terms of food safety. I have a group of food safety professionals that I interact with regularly and asked them what they thought 2023 would hold in terms of “opportunities and challenges” in the world of food safety. I’ll summarize the comments and offer perspective on them as we look forward to 2023!

Surprisingly, education, in various forms, came to the top of the list. The stated needs ranged from providing more consumer education to empower them to keep their food safe at home to educating/equipping food safety professionals with tools and information to help them educate better. There was also an emphasis on the need for professionals to step up and emerge as leaders to making changes in all segments of the food supply chain. It was also mentioned that there is a growing need for commitment from plant leadership to maintain a food safety culture throughout the entire facility. The job of food safety isn’t just one person; the responsibility is top down! Finally, and of keen importance, it was mentioned that the regulatory agencies needed more interaction with the industry as some of the new regs, specifically FDA traceability and labelling, were going to be challenging to implement due to a lack of understanding of the logistics the industry must navigate. We all need to commit to learn more in 2023!

I have mentioned this often in my blogs, but there is continuing concern that supply chains will be disrupted. This not only results in shortages, but also in a lack of supplies/ingredients to ensure food safety. This is especially impactful to smaller companies that do not have the buying power of larger companies. There is an effort to support and expand the food supply chain by providing resources to the smaller producer from the government, but this is a significant hurdle that needs to be addressed quickly with some of the red tape removed. The labor supply chain has also been a barrier to the industry. With a smaller workforce, some tasks go undone and can lead to an inability to properly operate. Food safety protocols and sanitation tend to get cut short when labor is thin.

Last, but not least, our group expressed opportunities in the regulatory space. Regulatory “confusion” and a lack of clarity was mentioned more than once. There seems to be growing concern that the intent of regulations and policies isn’t being communicated to the industry. There is a lack of understanding on how new programs will be implemented. There wasn’t necessarily any push-back against new policies, but rather a need for clarity and transparency. It was noted that even science-based regulations need to have an element of practicality. Addressing a food safety concern at one point in the system could have unintended consequences on other points in the process having a counter-productive impact. It is important to note that last month I mentioned that the greatest tragedy of the year was failure to confirm Dr. Emilio Esteban. Just before the senate adjourned, he was confirmed as Under Secretary for Food Safety! This is great news! While he hasn’t had time to settle into the role, I am sure that he will be able to alleviate some of the confusion!

Disparity among agencies and regulations was also a big concern. There is a difference in food service standards compared to those required in processing facilities. Additionally, there is a lack of oversight for products that are shipped through the mail/delivery services. Aligning policies and regulations would go a long way in strengthening the food supply chain. Having been at the regulatory level, I know this is easier said than done! Working across agencies and departments can be challenging.

Wrapping up, I want to give a shout out to all of the help from our Pink Ribbon Food Safety group! They were open and transparent in providing feedback! Personally, I am looking forward to what we will learn in 2023. What new discoveries will be made? What new technologies can we develop? How can we continue to make food safer? Every year the knowledge base grows and even changes with new information. I love working in this industry, and I know that 2023 brings many challenges, but I know we will rise up with opportunities and innovations to make it a great year.

Looking forward to 2023

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