New Global Food Safety Survey: Food and Drink Companies' Barriers to Effective Training


Food Safety Training Initiatives on a Global Scale: Results of a Worldwide Study



A new survey by Campden BRI, Alchemy Systems, LP and in partnership with BRC and SQF questioned 649 food and drink manufacturers and processors worldwide to identify the needs, effectiveness and challenges of food safety training in the industry.

While companies recognized improved product quality and higher employee morale as the greatest benefits of effective food safety training, over 70 percent of those surveyed said finding the time for training was the greatest challenge. Other barriers cited included verifying the effectiveness of training (43 percent), dealing with language issues when delivering a consistent training program across global sites (28 percent), resource problems (24 percent) and keeping the training curriculum up-to-date (24 percent).

Benchmarking
The companies surveyed represent a cross section of the industry, drawn from across the world. They ranged in size from under 50 employees to over 1,000 and cover many sectors including cereal and baking, dairy, meats, fish and poultry, and packaging.

Laura Dunn Nelson, Director of Industry Relations at Alchemy Systems commented, "With food safety being so critical to the food industry, the importance of adequate training remains vital. The results of this study are an excellent way for food manufacturers and processors to benchmark their performance against their competitors and identify any opportunities for development."

Room for Improvement
Almost 85 percent of food companies use on-the-job training, which was closely followed by reading policies, refresher courses and traditional classroom-based learning. It is worth noting that e-learning and interactive training were used by 39 percent and 14 percent of companies, respectively. However, with only 66 percent of companies stating they are very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of training undertaken there is clearly room for improvement. The biggest deficiencies identified were a lack of employee understanding and incomplete training records.

Bertrand Emond, Head of Membership and Training at Campden BRI said, "The results of this survey provide a complete picture of the current activities and practices in food safety training across the industry. By conducting the survey each year we will be able to track developments and trends, and develop solutions to some of the challenges identified."

To read the full results of the study, which surveyed companies on all areas of food safety from auditing and measuring competency to management of training records, please visit online to: http://www.alchemysystems.com/files/4813/6508/4362/global_training_survey_findings.pdf.

For more information on the Alchemy go online to www.alchemysystems.com or email contactus@alchemysystems.com or call 1-888-988-8832.

About Campden BRI
Campden BRI provides technical, scientific and legislative support, as well as underpinning research, to the food and drinks industry worldwide. We offer a comprehensive "farm to fork" range of services covering agri-food production, analysis and testing, processing and manufacturing, safety, training and technical information services. Our members and clients benefit from industry-leading facilities for analysis, product and process development, and sensory and consumer studies, which include a specialist brewing and wine division. For more information, please visit www.campdenbri.co.uk.

About Alchemy Systems
Alchemy Systems logoAlchemy is the global leader in food and workplace safety training for food workers. Companies use Alchemy to increase productivity, reduce food safety incidents, and lower compliance risks and costs. Alchemy's unique training solution provides an interactive learning experience for food workers and enables companies to build a strong food safety culture. For more information, please go to www.alchemysystems.com.

About BRC Global Standards
BRC Global Standards is the world's biggest provider of safety and quality Standards Programmes for food manufacture, packaging, storage and distribution. BRC's Global Standards are generated with the help of technical specialists, retailers, manufacturers and certification bodies from around the world, so everything is based on practicality, rigour and clarity. As well as the Standards, as part of the programme, BRC Global Standards offer comprehensive support to help new and established businesses to achieve their quality and safety aims. For more information, please visit www.brcglobalstandards.com.

About Safety Quality Food Institute
Recognized by retailers and foodservice providers around the world who require a stringent, credible food safety management system, The Safe Quality Food Institute delivers consistent, globally recognized food safety and quality certification programs based on sound scientific principles, consistently applied across all industry sectors, and valued by all stakeholders. Administered by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), SQF benefits from continual retailer feedback about consumer concerns which are passed on food suppliers. For more information, please visit www.sqfi.com.

4.05.2013