The global food system is more complex and complicated today than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies to reevaluate their current supply chains, as businesses needed to find ways to establish greater resiliency and transparency in response to global supply chain disruptions and changes in consumer demand. Many of our products come from various sources across multiple supply chains worldwide.
As the supply chain grows in complexity and size, the likelihood and severity of outbreaks and food recalls increase. Maintaining full visibility and transparency in those networks to protect your brand and consumers is critical. Food recalls impact across the board, putting the consumer at risk, harming your brand reputation, and costing millions of dollars in time and resources. Companies need to ensure they’re taking steps to minimize the impact.
Three Considerations for Minimizing the Impact of Food Product Recalls
1. Understand the implications of a food product recall for your organization.
Everyone in your company must understand the evolving regulations and standards for food product recalls.
What’s the latest guidance?
Do you have an established recall team who knows exactly what action to take,
what communication to distribute, and to whom?
Companies should share this information with all internal stakeholders and their suppliers. When a food product recall occurs, all involved are prepared to act and can be held accountable for their responsibilities or tasks before, during, and after a recall. A thorough understanding of the protocols and guidelines will prepare your team to take swift and efficient action when necessary and can significantly reduce the impact of a food product recall for your company.
2. Conduct mock recalls.
The best way to ensure that your company is prepared for an actual recall event is by conducting mock recalls. Through a mock recall, you can test and improve processes and procedures to ensure that you are adequately prepared to take immediate action when an actual food product recall occurs.
Does your recall team know what to do?
Was the proper protocol executed?
What worked, and what didn’t?
Although you can take actionable steps toward prevention, a food product recall is ultimately inevitable. While conducting mock recalls does take time and money, this practice is far less expensive than a failed product recall down the line and can help you minimize the impact of a food product recall.
3. Invest in technology to enable swifter and smarter food safety protocols.
One core tenet of the FDA’s New Era for Smarter Food Safety is leveraging technology to create a safer food system, including responding more rapidly and efficiently to outbreaks to protect consumers.
Do you have the right technology solution in place?
What research have you done to find a software solution?
It’s no secret that how you respond to a product recall can considerably impact your company's reputation and ROI. Having the right solutions to act swiftly and precisely can make or break your business – particularly when it comes to maintaining consumer trust. A recall management solution, such as FoodLogiQ Recall, can fortify your recall management strategy and significantly minimize the impact a food product recall has on your business.
Consumers today increasingly demand product transparency and want to ensure that companies prioritize their safety and well-being. Additionally, federal regulations force the industry to reassess its preventative and corrective action strategies regarding food quality and safety. Taking time to understand evolving regulatory developments, establishing internal protocols and guidelines, conducting mock recalls, and leveraging technology to enable swift and efficient recall resolutions are considerations for companies looking to minimize the impact of food product recalls.
Watch a Live Recall in Our On-Demand Webinar
Have you ever been a part of a live recall event? If you have, you likely know how stressful and overwhelming the event can be, as you have to juggle communicating with partners, investigating lot numbers, and monitoring withdrawals across locations.
Luckily, there are easier ways to manage, monitor, and launch recall events, and the FoodLogiQ Recall dashboard is a powerful tool to facilitate streamlined recall management. To learn how our dashboard can simplify the process and automate essential steps, watch our on-demand mock recall event and demo: Mastering Recall Response.
