Watching the news on Sunday, I saw the U.S. military announced that it has now shot down a third “object” traversing the airspace over North America. While the first “object” was reported to be a Chinese balloon fitted with spy and surveillance apparatus, the following two downed “objects” have not yet been identified.

On Saturday, there was a “radar anomaly” over Montana that forced the government to shut down a large swath of airspace and, on Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration mysteriously issued and then lifted a Temporary Flight Restriction over most of Like Michigan.

Whether in the sky or in your facility, it is never a good thing to spot something “unidentified.” Luckily, it is less likely to find something unknown in a food facility than it is to observe in the sky. For decades, we have been studying and learning the patterns of pathogens that work tirelessly to remain hidden and unseen. While they have proven to be resilient, they have also proven to be prevalent and persistent.

While the U.S. was arguably slow to respond to the first aerial object which boldly crossed the U.S uninhibited – which proved to be a Chinese spy balloon – the U.S. was very quick to respond to, and decisively shoot down, the two follow-on objects. The basic premise, after the first incident, was that if any unwelcome airborne vehicle entered U.S. or Canadian airspace, it would be promptly removed.

When we think of pathogens in our facilities, we should embrace the same urgency displayed by the U.S. military responding to the most recent Unidentified Flying Objects. When pathogens are detected on food facility floors and equipment, it will always be best not to sit back idly and watch them boldly reproduce and spread. Doing so will only create conditions that will invite additional pathogens to infiltrate and then control the environment.

And when you talk to company leadership, speak in terms of the dangers that Unidentified Food Organisms can cause to your products and brand. While it is true that “the more you test the more you find,” if microorganisms are, in fact, present, they need to be detected. Long gone are the days when intermittent findings of pathogens are acceptable. If found, they need to be dispatched with the utmost urgency and speed. Allowing pathogens to persist in the environment is no different than allowing Unidentified Flying Objects to persist over U.S. soil.

Bottom line, anything unknown is not good. Stay on top of things lurking in the dark that are trying to remain unseen, growing, and waiting for their moment to pounce. If you keep sampling and testing for UFOs, you will vastly enhance your chances of keeping your facility and product safe.

UFOs: Unidentified food organisms

Join for free* to continue reading.