The Importance of Food Safety Management
There are significant challenges that face the food safety management system of India. These challenges have the potential to undermine the implementation of the FSCM system and the food management system of many countries. These challenges include inadequate food traceability, increased food contamination risks, and failures of food safety assessments. The challenges also include lack of adequate in-house expertise, training and supervision of employees, and poor communication among stakeholders.
India faces some unique challenges related to its food safety management. The first challenge is the absence of food traceability system. In the United States, food safety is routinely monitored through state-supported programs and commercial food packaging guidelines. India has neither such programs nor commercial packaging guidelines. The lack of food traceability results in both reduced food safety and increased food contaminants. The lack of food traceability also poses challenges for food safety management in other ways as well.
Because food traceability requires constant monitoring and recordkeeping, it has the potential to reduce food safety. Many people do not know that they can protect themselves from food poisoning and contamination by setting up a food safety plan, or an individual food storage and handling plan. However, food traceability is not always supported by these plans. When food is transported from one location to another, even if the transportation method was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), food traceability is often not maintained. As a result, consumers may not always be aware of food safety during food travels.
Another challenge is the lack of education regarding food traceability. Most people in India do not know how to set up food traceability systems, even though it is required in many parts of the country. Likewise, those living in developed countries are likely to be unaware of food safety requirements in their own food production and handling procedures. Lack of information about food traceability also makes it difficult for those who work in food safety management to identify food contamination and implement effective control measures.
The best food safety management system ensures food safety through continuous improvement efforts. It begins with a food safety plan that identifies and addresses the key food safety risks and issues. These include food wastes, contamination, runoff, transport, storage, and handling. A food safety management system further involves timely and periodic assessment of food manufacturing, processing, and packaging processes. Finally, food safety management includes control measures such as food purity, quality assurance, and distribution.
Implementing a food safety management system will require a significant investment on the part of food manufacturers and suppliers. However, it will prove to be a very worthwhile investment. Preventing food contamination will help reduce foodborne illnesses and promote overall food safety. And improving food safety management will improve public health by promoting nutrition. Food security is a concern for all people.
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