Developing Food Safety Procedures

NACS revisits “How Not to be the Next Food Safety Headline” from the 2016 Show in a webinar form.

February 22, 2017

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The days when the public didn’t care about food safety are long over. Now, all you have to say is “Chipotle,” and consumers cringe and food providers wince. But retailers don’t have to experience a food safety disaster, according to three of the panelists from the popular NACS Show educational session during yesterday’s NACS Show Speaker Chat: How Not to be the Next Food Safety Headline.

Barb Kane, vice president of industry relations for Ecolab, Inc., reminded chat attendees of the huge impact food safety can have on a retailer, but that NACS and other websites like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have training tools that can help.

James Joseph O’Donnell III, sustainability and food safety leader, environmental health, safety, and risk assessment for the Hussmann Corp., recapped that foodservice equipment should be “easy to clean and maintain” and the importance of working with the local health department. Haley Oliver, associate professor at Purdue University, talked about how having a handle on sanitation and documentation helps retailers manage their food safety risks.

Attendees asked about how to develop a food-safety policy. O’Donnell recommended checking with health inspectors at the local level for specifics. All three panelists emphasized the importance of protecting your brand by having a clean store and food-safety procedures in place.

Another question centered around what insurance a retailer needed to cover foodservice operations. “That’s a great question, one I haven’t heard before,” Kane said. “Check with your current insurance company to see what the scope of your plan actually covers to see what level of liability is there.” A key way for retailers to protect themselves is to document cleaning and other food-safety policies. “The more information you have, the more you’re covered in case of a foodborne illness outbreak.”

On February 28, tune in to NACS Show Speaker Chat: Welcome Aboard! for a chance to ask speakers your questions on new employees. NACS Show Speaker Chats will run weekly on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. EST through March 21.

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