SGS Informs on Latest Global Recall Notifications and Food Safety Management Systems

Hamburg, Germany, October 07, 2014 --(PR.com)-- High profile food scares have no doubt contributed to caution across the food supply chain, but the impact of recalls on business performance can be very detrimental. Food safety notifications in the US are supposed to be logged in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Reportable Food Registry (RFR), United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service and FDA are found at foodsafety.gov (http://www.foodsafety.gov/), and in the EU via the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) giving visibility to individual issues, improving traceability and identification of wider issues/trends. Based on analysis of USA, UK and Republic of Ireland notifications from 2004 to 2010, based on the RASFF hazard categories, it is apparent that operational product recalls are the biggest category, by some distance. 55% of total recalls result from issues including incorrect labeling, packaging defects, production contamination (metal, glass, plastic and pests), production defects, unauthorized ingredients, incorrect ingredient levels and food fraud. Biological hazard based product recalls, relating to pathogens, biotoxins, viruses and hygiene indicators are the second most frequent type of food hazard (36%), and chemical hazard based product recalls representing the smallest proportion of total recalls (9%).

Notifications in the US – Annual RFR Report

The US FDA’s fourth Annual RFR Report summarizes the Registry’s fourth year of operation (8 September, 2012 – 7 September, 2013) and finds that it logged 1,269 reports, including 202 primary reports – initial reports about a safety concern with a food or animal feed (including food ingredients).

Notifications in the EU – RASFF Annual Report

RASFF notifications dropped by 8.8% in 2013, to 3,205 original notifications, of which 596 were classified as alerts, 442 as information for follow up, 705 as information for attention and 1,462 as border rejection notifications. Notifications for biological hazards (pathogenic microorganisms) in food reached an all-time high in 2013, 642 represents an increase of 40% compared to 2012.

Detrimental Effects of Food Safety Recalls on Brands

Brand reputation takes years to build, but as little as one product recall to destroy. Research has found that product recalls impact not only customer sales and consumer demand but also operational performance, share price, food prices and market movements. From the customer and consumer perspective, increased food product recalls beg the question – is food quality, safety and integrity getting worse? Or is the food industry getting better at regulating itself?

Established markets are becoming more accountable and transparent. RFR in the US and RASFF in the EU, both enable indeed, compel the industry to report incidents, thereby giving transparency and an efficient method for highlighting and reviewing issues, individually or in a wider context.

Implementing a Food Safety Management System

Food safety management systems, testing and traceability all facilitate prompt action when problems arise in the food supply chain. Product recalls are generally a management practice of last resort, taken only when a firm needs to prevent sub-standard products reaching consumers, usually to prevent the risk of adverse impact on consumer health. Across the industry, process, policies and system fail-safes are put in place to try to ensure a recall is not required.

Operational, biological and chemical hazards can all be addressed, and the risks to the food supply chain and its end-consumers can be assessed, mitigated and reduced through implementation of effective food safety management systems. With SQF (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Food/Transportation-Logistics-and-Trade/GFSI-Certification/Safe-Quality-Food-Standard-SQF-Certification.aspx), BRC, IFS (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Food/Transportation-Logistics-and-Trade/Other-Food-Certification/IFS-Logistics-Certification.aspx), FSSC 22000 and HACCP, plenty of industry specific schemes help drive continuous improvement and aid the identification of issues and substandard products before they reach the distribution network.

Please contact an SGS expert for further information.

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.