The Focus Is On Prevention
Identify the critical control points in your operations and avoid contamination.
The responsible party is also subject to fines under the Act. In addition, grocery stores and food retailers will now be responsible for actively alerting customers of the latest product recalls and for taking specific product removal steps in their stores. The FDA will also have access to recall records for both manufacturers and retailers.
This change elevates the importance for food companies to have risk and hazard prevention measures in place, including a strong recall plan. For companies to be properly prepared in the case that the FDA mandates a recall, a recall plan should include the following:
The ability to trace food and packaging throughout the supply chain;
A recall team that can begin action within 24 hours;
A plan to swiftly contact customers, food retailers, consignees and consumers;
A strategy to remove recalled product from the market;
A process to destroy or recondition recalled product according to FDA guidelines;
Flawless record keeping regarding all recall activities.
Pepperworth is president of Inmar Reverse Logistics, Winston-Salem, NC. For more information, go to www.recallinfonow.com.
