In Quebec’s agri-food sector, building a genuine food safety culture is no small feat. I spoke with Kathie ROSEBERRY, Food Quality Specialist and Content Manager at BlueKanGo, to get a better understanding of the real-world challenges faced on the ground.
Why is it so challenging to establish a true food safety culture?
Every year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) handles an average of 161 food recall incidents. All too often, these incidents are the result of preventable human error. This shows that, despite existing controls, there’s still a need for heightened human vigilance, precisely what a strong food safety culture aims to reinforce. The main challenge is that food safety isn’t just about having written procedures. It needs to become second nature for everyone across the organization. Just because a protocol is posted on the wall doesn’t mean it’s understood, followed, or truly integrated into daily routines. You need to foster a mindset where quality is everyone’s responsibility, not just the quality team’s. And that takes time, consistency, strong communication efforts, and genuine commitment from leadership.
Speaking of which, is leadership always involved in this process?
Honestly, not always. And unfortunately, if leadership isn’t on board, food safety tends to stay “just a quality department issue.” A real culture starts at the top and filters down through the entire organization. Leaders need to demonstrate a clear and ongoing commitment to food safety. That means putting policies and procedures in place, and communicating the importance of food safety at every level of the organization. Leadership must also lead by example by adhering to food safety standards themselves and truly walking the talk.
What do you see as the key element for building a strong food safety culture?
In my view, team engagement is absolutely essential. Engagement is a fundamental pillar for establishing a strong food safety culture. When frontline teams are involved, aware of their role, and motivated to follow best practices, you create an environment where food safety becomes a shared responsibility.
To encourage team engagement daily, you can use a variety of strategies, like involving employees in the process, providing them with the right tools, recognizing their efforts, and fostering a climate of trust.
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