In the wild, different predators have their own unique ways of stalking and killing their prey.

While the techniques and means may differ, the outcome is usually the same. The less powerful creature will eventually succumb to the strength, suffocating weight, and brutal force of the attacker. When the fight is over, and the last breath is drawn, the victor will typically glow with pride, release a thunderous roar, and begin to search for its next meal.

When we’re lucky enough to be in Florida, Jess and I advise our clients from the first floor of our “Funky Fish House.” Our home, which (long before we purchased it) was aptly named the “Shark House,” sits only minutes from the Gulf of Mexico. Resting quietly on our deck, overlooking miles of Florida mangroves, we routinely see alligators swerving to and from in the canal below, searching for their next lunch or dinner. And, living amongst the alligators, which we recently learned from a friend, are six-foot bull sharks. Four of them, to be exact, were recently spotted and photographed in a nearby marina.

And … that’s why our paddle boards are for sale.

With that said, it also stands as a stark reminder that, whether we are working as food industry professionals, or taking a brief vacation to the Great State of Florida, there is always risk and exposure lurking in the shadows, just under the surface of the water, or right around the corner. In Florida, it’s the sharks, alligators, and maybe even pumas. In our food facilities, it’s the regulators.

Now that COVID is mostly in the rear-view mirror, like a T-Rex in Jurassic Park, the regulators are continuing to increase the frequency of routine FDA inspections and USDA Food Safety Assessments. In addition to being more frequent, they are also more brutal.

Both agencies are now routinely conducting expansive scorched-earth swab-a-thons in food facilities, hunting and searching for the presence of pathogens like Listeria and Salmonella. When found, the agencies are forcing companies to expend hundreds of thousands (and, in some cases, millions) of dollars to eliminate these pathogens from food production areas. If the companies are unsuccessful, the agencies will eventually (through Warning Letters or Notices of Suspension) force these companies out of business. Put differently, the more powerful creature will eventually force the company to succumb to its strength, suffocating weight, and brutal force.

So, as we move deeper into 2023, remember to remain diligent and aware. The predators are lurking in the shadows, just under the radar, and/or right around the next corner. Whether they take the shape of sharks, alligators or regulators, please know that their bites will be strong and sharp. Please begin preparing now, and make sure that you have the necessary protections in place. And, when the predators do arrive — and they will — please remember that an ounce of protections does, in fact, equate to a pound of cure.

Sharks, alligators, and regulators, oh my?? Be sure to follow our regulatory inspection checklist and, perhaps, we will be able to say, “sharks, alligators, and regulators, goodbye…”

Sharks, alligators and regulators, oh my!

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