CoBank says until traceability improves, improved detection increases risk of future advisories.

May 3, 2019

2 Min Read
recall stamped in red for product recall
Aquir/iStock/Getty Images

The financial risks and costs associated with food safety are increasing, and food suppliers will face continued increases in food safety costs over the coming years. Until there is reliable traceability throughout the food supply chain, the advanced technology that enables faster identification of food safety issues is also increasing the likelihood of more broad-based food advisories being issued.

A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division explains why the stakes are rising for food suppliers in a landscape of continuously evolving food safety challenges, technologies and regulations.

“Contrary to media reports and trending social media, there has not been an increase in food-related outbreaks in recent years. This is particularly noteworthy given technology developments, which allow us to better detect food safety issues,” said Crystal Carpenter, senior economist of specialty crops at CoBank.

In fact, even with the increased number of meat recalls, CoBank said the lack of corresponding increases in food outbreaks or illnesses indicates the effectiveness of the food safety system in removing potential hazards.

Data from U.S. agriculture and food agencies show that the number of food-related outbreaks and the resulting number of illnesses declined 43% between the late 1990s and 2010. Additionally, the number of food-related outbreaks since 2010 has held relatively stable.

However, while the ability to detect food-related outbreaks has increased, CoBank said until traceability improves, this improved detection increases the risk of future advisories, such as the romaine lettuce advisories in 2018.

An advisory is issued when consumers are cautioned not to consume a particular type of product due to a food safety concern, but a specific company or brand is not identified, as it would be in a product recall. Carpenter said the unfortunate aspect of an advisory is that it casts a shadow of doubt on all suppliers of a product.

“The total impact of an advisory is much greater than a recall and reaches far beyond the company at the source of the contamination,” she said. “The entire industry can be negatively affected by an advisory.”

An increasingly complex food chain with many touch points and value-added products has increased the potential points of contact and opportunities for contamination. It has also increased the complexity of traceability. Within the produce supply chain specifically, the greatest challenge in traceability is often in the last mile as product gets closer to the consumer.

“Understanding the risks of food safety incidents, the costs associated with them and risk mitigation strategies is becoming increasingly critical for profitability and long-term economic sustainability,” Carpenter said. “The financial and reputational implications of a food safety incident can be enormous, and the risk is rising.” 

Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Feedstuffs is the news source for animal agriculture

You May Also Like