Advancing Food Safety & Sustainability With Leanne Singleton

The food industry is changing fast, and safety and sustainability are top of mind for regulators, consumers, and industry leaders. Leanne Singleton, Principal Food Safety and Food Waste Specialist at FoodSure Australia brings over 20 years of expertise and deep industry knowledge to these critical issues. In this episode of Food Tech Talk: Supply Chain Insights From Farm to Fork, host Lydia Adams sat down with Singleton to get her insights on the transformation of food safety systems, innovative strategies for reducing food waste, and guidance in navigating today's complex food landscape.

Evolving Standards: Ensuring Safety and Quality Across the Supply Chain

One of Leanne's key contributions has been developing and implementing food safety standards. These standards, whether regulatory or best practice-driven, provide a framework for consistency and improvement across the industry. She highlights how standards like GFSI not only set benchmarks but also foster a culture of continuous improvement and proactive risk management. For instance, standards have expanded beyond HACCP to include rigorous requirements on allergen management, crucial for reducing food recalls globally.

“Undeclared allergens remain the leading cause of food recalls globally. So these standards have gone beyond HACCP and they've looked at a whole series of prompts, if you like, as to what a business would need to consider.”

Nurturing a Culture of Food Safety

At the heart of Singleton's approach is building a strong food safety culture in companies. She's quick to point out that just following the rules isn't enough – it's how people think and act about food safety that really protects a brand's image. Singleton's all about recognizing and encouraging good habits. Leanne advocates for recognizing and promoting positive behaviors through initiatives like food safety champions and near-miss reporting systems. These strategies don't just reduce risks; they get everyone thinking proactively about food safety — from the kitchen staff to the CEO.

Addressing Food Waste: Challenges and Opportunities

Singleton's expertise doesn't stop at safety; she's also passionate about sustainability, especially when it comes to tackling food waste. It's a tricky balance, as strict food safety rules can sometimes lead to more waste, but Singleton has some smart ideas on how to address this challenge.

She discusses how high standards inadvertently lead to increased waste but also advocates for businesses to rethink waste as a resource. By measuring and analyzing waste at various stages of production, businesses can identify opportunities for efficiency gains, such as repurposing surplus food or collaborating with suppliers to reduce waste collectively.

“One of the first challenges is that we neexd to recognize food waste when we see it. I realized that an unintended consequence of having these very high level food safety standards is that it could unintentionally drive some food waste as well”

Moving Towards a Sustainable and Safe Future

Leanne Singleton's expertise underscores the interconnectedness of food safety, traceability, and sustainability. Her career journey and insights serve as a guide for navigating the complexities of modern food systems, emphasizing the need for standards that evolve with industry advancements and consumer expectations.

For businesses working toward achieving their food safety and sustainability goals, Leanne's principles of continuous improvement and collaborative efforts across the supply chain provide a roadmap for a safer, more efficient, and environmentally conscious future.

Leanne Singleton's experiences and perspectives highlight the ongoing efforts needed to uphold food safety standards while addressing challenges like food waste. Her advocacy for proactive measures and cultural integration of food safety practices offers valuable lessons for stakeholders across the food industry landscape. As we look to the future, leveraging technology and fostering a culture of accountability will be pivotal in achieving sustainable food systems globally.

About Leanne Singleton

Leanne Singleton's journey into food safety was initially sparked by a personal experience with celiac disease, which redirected her career path toward regulatory compliance. Over the years, she has moved into roles shaping food safety standards, emphasizing the pivotal shift from reactive inspection-based models to proactive, risk-based approaches like HACCP and GFSI standards. 

Throughout Leanne’s career, she has been involved in developing and implementing crucial standards that have reshaped the industry's approach to ensuring food safety across the supply chain.

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