Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking

This book comprehensively argues for more future benchmarking between nations. Since the initial food safety benchmarking report was published in 2008, the sharing of data and protocols among nations has dramatically increased. It was intended to identify and evaluate common elements among global food safety systems. More specifically, benchmarking identifies those countries that employ comparatively best practices to assess, manage, and communicate the risks related to the safety of food and their respective food systems. The overarching intent of this benchmarking assessment, however, is to stimulate exchange and discussion on food safety performance among nations.

Preface and Acknowledgment ix

1 Introduction: Facing Global Realities 1

Facing Global Realities 1

Food Systems 4

Food Safety Systems 7

Supply Connecting with Demand 9

Comparing Food Safety Systems 12

Methodology for the First Two Surveys 14

Limitations 15

Highlights 19

2 How Was Canada Doing in 2010? A Comparative Analysis 21

How Was Canada Doing? A Comparative Analysis 21

Highlights 22

Consumer Affairs 23

Biosecurity 23

Governance and Recall 23

Traceability and Management 24

How Canada Got Here 24

Industry and the Canadian Government 30

Industry and the United States 34

Beyond BSE: Food Safety and Trades 35

3 Consumer Affairs 41

Connecting with the consumer 41

Analysis of Ranking Data 42

Incidences of Reported Illness by Foodborne Pathogens 42

Rates of Inspections and Audits 46

Food Safety Education Programs 49

Labeling and Indications of Allergens 50

Ease of Access to Public Health Information 52

Investigation on Consumer Affairs 53

Incidences of Reported Illness by Foodborne Pathogens 53

Rates of Inspections and Audits 56

Food Safety Education Programs 56

Labeling and Indications of Allergens 57

Discussion 57

4 Biosecurity 63

Bioterrorism 66

Analysis of Ranking Data 68

Rate of Use of Agricultural Chemicals 68

Bioterrorism Strategy 70

Investigation on Biosecurity 72

Rate of Use of Agricultural Chemicals 72

Discussion 75

5 Governance and Recalls 85

Governance and Recalls in the Food Safety Performance World Ranking Initiative 87

Existence of Risk Management Plans 88

Analysis of Ranking Data 88

Level of Clarity and Stability of Food Recall Regulations 90

Number of Protectionist Measures Against Trading Partners 92

Number of Recalls 94

Investigation on Governance and Recalls 96

Existence of Risk Management Plans 96

Level of Clarity and Stability of Food Recall Regulations 98

Number of Protectionist Measures Against Trading Partners 100

Number of Recalls 100

Discussion 101

6 Traceability and Management 107

Traceability and Management in the Food Safety Performance World Ranking Initiative 107

Analysis of Ranking Data 109

Depth of Traceability Systems in Food Chain 109

Investigation on Traceability and Management 111

Discussion 114

Canada’s Traceability Unpacked 116

The Role of Business: Top–Down or Bottom–Up Traceability 118

2008 Listeriosis Outbreak 119

2003 BSE Cow 121

Traceability and Trade 124

Technology and the Future 125

7 The 2014 Survey 129

A New Approach 129

Purpose 130

Methodology 131

Food Safety Risk Assessment 132

Chemical Risks 133

Microbial Risks 136

National Food Consumption Reporting 144

Inspections and Audits 148

Food Safety Risk Management 148

National Food Safety Response Capacity 149

Food Recalls 151

Food Traceability 154

Radionuclide Standards 155

Food Safety Risk Communication 157

Allergenic Risks and Labeling 158

Public Trust 160

National Food Safety System Performances Compared 161

What This New 2014 Version Means 162

8 The Future of Global Food Safety Systems and Risk Intelligence 167

Changing Agricultural Production Strategies 168

One Earth Farms 169

Terroir Potential 171

Possible Effects on Global Food Safety Systems 173

Other Policy and Managerial Implications 174

On the Question of GMOs 176

Assessment of Current and Evolving Systemic Risks in Food Safety 185

Increased Global Trade 185

Taking Everyone Off the Farm in an Era of Rapid Change 187

Shifting Food Safety Responsibilities Between Public and Private Sectors 190

Risk Aversion 191

References 193

Index 213

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is Dean of the Faculty of Management and Professor of the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University, Canada. He acts as special advisor to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to Health Canada on food safety issues, and to Agriculture and Food Canada on agricultural policy. The era of accountability in food safety is upon us. With social media empowering consumers and an increase in global trades, food industry pundits and food safety regulators alike will be expected to become more responsive and transparent. Protectionism is no longer enough, or even appropriate. With less means, public regulators from around the world are pressed to monitor risks that are often challening to anticipate. Constant learning will be crucial for more effective mitigating strategies and policies. This learning process can be supported by many different sources, including other countries.

Once deemed controversial, benchmarking amongst nations has become a powerful tool allowing food safety experts to anticipate systemic risks which could threaten the welfare of an economy. This book analyzes the strengths and weaknesses in food safety systems around the world in order to assist academics, industry professionals and policymakers to implement effective food safety management systems and processes. The food safety performances of 17 OCDE countries have been compared across four major categories: consumer affairs; biosecurity; governance and recalls; and traceability and management. The purpose of this benchmarking framework is to identify and evaluate common elements among global food safety sustems. The primary objective of this book is not only to identify which country offers the safest food prodcuts to its citizens, but to recognize which countries employ comparatively best practices to contain risks related to the safety of food sustems.