Food safety, traceability and sustainability blog

Active Managerial Control at the System & Operational Level

Join FoodLogiQ for a live webinar on Wednesday, September 12th, 2018 at 2:00 pm ET when we'll talk with Dr. Ben Chapman at North Carolina State University and Eric Moore at Testo about Active Managerial Control (AMC).

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins, the cost of a single foodborne illness outbreak at a restaurant could range between $3,968 and $2.6 million, depending on the severity of the outbreak, how much the company would have to spend on fines, lawsuits and legal fees, as well as the number of employees affected by the incident. 

Under the Microscope: Food Industry Sees Increase in FDA Inspections

Food safety is an important issue. About 128,000 people are hospitalized every year due to a foodborne illness, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Regulatory bodies, therefore, continue to adopt stricter measures to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and guidelines.

In the last few years, the FDA has increased efforts to reduce the number of food safety incidents. The most prominent move was the enactment of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in 2011. More recently, the FDA aims to increase domestic and foreign inspections of regulated products.

Smart Food Sourcing and Brand Transparency

Today’s consumers want more variety in their food, but they are also more critical of product labels. They want food supply chain transparency, especially about the origin of their products they buy. On the regulatory side, new laws stipulate a focus on preventing contaminated raw materials from getting into the food supply chain, rather than dealing with contamination in factories. For anyone involved in the supply chain, delivering on these expectations can be challenging.

Food Recall Management: How Food Recalls Affect Consumer Buying Habits and What You Can Do About It

Food recalls and withdrawals are inevitable in the food industry. From a marketing perspective, preserving your brand reputation while ensuring consumer safety during food recalls is a priority. Understanding consumer responses to food recalls is also crucial for proper food recall management. How do you maintain customer loyalty while managing a food crisis?

Fast Food Trends in 2018: Where Does Social Media Fit In?

The food industry is fast-moving when it comes to responding to consumer preferences. Social media allows information to be shared instantly to millions of people. It’s an opportunity for the food industry to listen and engage with consumers.

In the article “How to Use Social Media as a Test Kitchen for Your Brand,” QSR Magazine social media turned sweet tea-loving guests of McAlister’s Deli into fans of a new green tea option. McAlister’s asked the question, “Who’s talking about green tea and what are they saying?” to determine trends and preferences. They discovered that flavored green tea was more popular on social media. Consumer feedback allowed the company to create a niche flavor that would represent their  brand and resonate with tea drinkers.