Food is an ever-changing industry, and new best practices, technology, and food safety trends are always affecting regulations and recommendations for maximizing food quality and safety. In this guide, we’ll discuss the top things that professionals in the food industry can expect in 2021, and beyond.

  1. The FDA’s Traceability Initiative as Part of the “New Era of Smarter Food Safety”

The FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety has been announced, and one of the largest parts of this initiative is an emphasis on smarter food traceability using technology to quickly label, identify, and track food-related shipments using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technology. In the coming years, advanced technology will be used to track almost all shipments of food, ensuring contaminated or dangerous products can be traced in minutes – not days or weeks.

  1. FDA Drafts Rule on Laboratory Accreditation

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has outlined new requirements for food testing labs, as well as new regulatory and testing requirements regarding which types of foods will need to be tested in these labs.

  1. Leafy Green STEC Action Plan and Current Recall

Leafy greens have caused more than 40 outbreaks of E. coli between 2009 and 2018, and a 2020 outbreak just recently ended on Dec 22. The FDA has created a three-part response plan consisting of:

    1. Prevention, including water safety and enhanced auditing and inspection
    2. Response, including stricter regulations for shipment identification and traceability
    3. Addressing knowledge gaps in workers and stakeholders

  1. CanadaGAP Requires an Environmental Monitoring Program

CanadaGAP (Good Agricultural Practices) now requires companies to adopt an environmental monitoring program to measure the effectiveness of sanitation practices and acquire data that can help prevent future microbial contamination.

  1. Allergen Management Continues to be a Focal Point

Food allergies have become more common in the past two decades, and the FDA continues to emphasize the importance of managing allergens properly during production, providing adequate warnings on package labels, and other best practices that preserve the safety of consumers who may have a life-threatening reaction to allergens.

Why Choose ImEPIK for Food Safety Training?

At ImEPIK, we’ve built an interactive, flexible, and powerful online food safety training platform that allows employees to learn more about food safety training anywhere – and on their own schedule.

With our advanced food safety training course, your employees will gain the insight, knowledge, and depth of technical skill required to maintain proper food safety controls and infrastructure on your production line, which leads to better overall business outcomes.

Contact ImEPIK Today To Get Started

If you’re ready to prepare for food safety challenges in 2021 and beyond, ImEPIK is here to help.

Chat with us online or give us a call at (866) 318-9855 to more about how we can help you and your team make safe food products and exceed today’s standards.