I am often quoted as saying that one of the most important drivers of food safety is organizational culture. If an organization has a strong food-safety culture, the chances of processing and shipping a contaminated product are decreased significantly. If the culture is weak, or nonexistent, the chances increase exponentially.
So, how can food company leaders develop and maintain this type of culture in their own organization? By embracing the “Three C’s of Food Safety Culture”: Compassion; Commitment; and Communication. Individually, each of these concepts play a significant role in our own lives, but when combined under the banner of food safety, they can improve the lives of our customers as well.
Food safety cannot exist in the absence of compassion. The only way any person will be truly motivated to produce a safe product is if they are first compassionate about not making people sick. We need to remind ourselves constantly that we are compassionate about not making people sick, not because it will cost the company money, but because we are good people and it’s the right thing to do. This should be the same level of compassion that we reserve for our own families and loved ones.
Compassion is meaningless, however, unless we make a commitmentto do something with that compassion. You cannot say that you’re compassionate about not making people sick, but then refuse to invest in the actual programs, training and new technologies needed to make it happen. Thus, to create a strong food-safety culture, the company leadership must demonstrate follow-through by supporting the efforts of company management and the employees who are trying to carry their compassion forward as well.
In addition to being compassionate about food safety and committing to it, company leadership needs to use the art of communication. Be sure to tell employees that you are compassionate and committed to food safety. If you continue to communicate your compassion and commitment to food safety within your organization, a robust food-safety culture will begin to follow. Although that culture may take some time to develop, once it takes hold it will spread quickly throughout the organization.
Food safety will become part of the internal organizational language, and with continued support will continue to grow.
When it comes to producing and selling food, safety is one of the most important attributes. If a company has a robust food-safety culture, it will by definition produce a higher quality and safer product. Embrace the “Three C’s of Food Safety Culture,” and take pride by committing to communicate your compassion not only to your colleagues but also, your most important asset, your customers. NP
Shawn Stevens is the founding member of Food Industry Counsel LLC, a law firm formed in 2014 to represent the food industry exclusively in regulatory and other matters involving food safety and quality. Contact Stevens at (920) 698-2561 or stevens@foodindustrycounsel.com, or visit his Web site, www.foodindustrycounsel.com.
FAQs
By embracing the “Three C's of Food Safety Culture”: Compassion; Commitment; and Communication. Individually, each of these concepts play a significant role in our own lives, but when combined under the banner of food safety, they can improve the lives of our customers as well.
What are the Cs of food safety? ›
Food safety practices were classified by the researcher into five themes, which included: cook, clean, cross-contaminate, chill and check.
What are three standards for general food safety? ›
In every step of food preparation, follow the four guidelines to keep food safe: Clean—Wash hands and surfaces often. Separate—Don't cross-contaminate. Cook—Cook to proper temperatures, checking with a food thermometer.
What are the four C's of food safety and why are they important? ›
The 4Cs of food hygiene
Cleaning. Cooking. Chilling. Cross-contamination.
What is the food safety culture plan? ›
Food Safety Culture is defined by the Global Food Safety Initiative as “shared values, beliefs and norms that affect mindset and behavior toward food safety in, across and throughout an organization." Developing a food safety culture plan is typically a multi-year process once the food safety team and senior management ...
What are the 3 C's in food safety? ›
By embracing the “Three C's of Food Safety Culture”: Compassion; Commitment; and Communication. Individually, each of these concepts play a significant role in our own lives, but when combined under the banner of food safety, they can improve the lives of our customers as well.
What is CS in safety? ›
So, there you have it – the two “Cs” of safety: compliance and communication. Now that you are armed with this information, you can ensure your workplace is safe for all of your personnel. Remember – your team and the mission are counting on you.
What are the 3 main principles of food safety? ›
Information
- Clean. Wash hands and surfaces often.
- Separate. Don't cross-contaminate. Keep raw meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods.
- Cook. Raw meat, poultry, seafood, and egg products need to be cooked to the right temperature. ...
- Chill. Refrigerate food promptly.
In summary, prevention, promotion, and protection are critical components of ensuring food safety and protecting public health.
What are 3 food safety considerations? ›
4 steps to food safety
- cleaning – making sure your hands, surfaces and equipment are clean before, during and after cooking.
- cooking – making sure food is cooked throughout to kill harmful bacteria.
- chilling – making sure foods are stored at the correct temperature to prevent growth of harmful bacteria.
KCSIE groups online safety risks into four areas: content, contact, conduct and commerce (sometimes referred to as contract). These are known as the 4 Cs of online safety.
What are the four C's? ›
To develop successful members of the global society, education must be based on a framework of the Four C's: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative thinking.
What are the 4 C's to keep food borne illness free? ›
The four C's of food safety
- Clean. Cleaning is the first step to keep you on track when it comes to food preparation and safety. ...
- Contain. Containment is key to preventing cross contamination. ...
- Cook. To kill bacteria that can cause food poisoning, it is important to cook all meat, poultry and seafood properly. ...
- Chill.
A strong culture of food safety involves a commitment from everyone within an organization, from top-level management to frontline workers, to prioritize and uphold food safety standards. This includes focusing on cleanliness, hygiene, and adherence to established food safety regulations and guidelines.
What is a safety culture plan? ›
Building a safety culture is a critical priority for companies today, yet for many it exists as a lofty goal rather than a concrete plan. Safety culture is defined as a shared set of beliefs, attitudes and actions around safety that are demonstrated across all levels of the organization.
What do the 4 C's stand for in food? ›
The 4Cs of food hygiene
cleaning. cooking. cross contamination. chilling.
What are the 4 C's in regards to food safety and sanitation? ›
To stay safe while cooking dinner, refer to the four C's of food safety: clean, contain, cook and chill.
What are the 4 C's of foodborne illness? ›
The 4 Cs are essentially a useful acronym / mnemonic device that highlights the four key areas of food hygiene that can help prevent the most common food safety problems such as foodborne illnesses. According to the Food Standards Agency, the four Cs are Cleaning, Cooking, Cross Contamination and Chilling.
What are the 5 basic food safety? ›
The core messages of the Five Keys to Safer Food are:keep clean;separate raw and cooked;cook thoroughly;keep food at safe temperatures; anduse safe water...
