World Food Safety Day: Training the guardians of safe food

World Food Safety Day 2025: Training the guardians of safe food

The theme for World Food Safety Day 2025 is Science in Action, emphasising the structured, strategic, and scientific frameworks required to ensure safe food production worldwide. To explore these topics in detail, we spoke with Sarah Crisp, a food safety expert, about current industry trends, essential practices, and the future of food safety.

Unpacking food safety standards

Can you explain briefly why there are different food safety standards?

All benchmarked GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) standards around the world operate on the same fundamental principles of a HACCP-based approach. Despite regional variations tied to where these standards were first established or gained popularity, their recognised equivalence ensures global sourcing of food aligns with the same robust protocols. This fosters trust that food produced worldwide adheres to equivalent safety standards.

HACCP as the benchmark

Why is HACCP considered the gold standard for food safety?

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is globally recognised because it provides a structured, logical framework for managing food safety hazards. For instance, in Australia, it is a legal requirement for food businesses to follow HACCP principles and undergo audits accordingly. When implemented correctly, HACCP supports businesses in consistently producing food that is safe for consumers.

We run a series of specialised HACCP courses to help upskill food safety professionals, these are:

• Introduction to Food Safety & HACCP Awareness: Learn the basics of food safety and how HACCP helps prevent food contamination. A great starting point for anyone new to the food industry.

• Principles and Applications of HACCP: Learn how to build and manage a HACCP plan to keep food safe. Perfect for anyone responsible for food safety in their workplace.

• HACCP Refresher: Keep your HACCP knowledge up to date with this refresher course, ideal for anyone who’s done HACCP training before and needs a quick update.

Other food safety accreditation, like GFSI

How does GFSI accreditation enhance food safety protection?

GFSI accreditation allows businesses to be audited against rigorous safety standards, such as SQF, BRCGS, or FSSC 22000. These standards ensure organisations have robust internal and supplier audit programs, providing an additional layer of protection.

Additionally, accreditation is often a prerequisite for trading or supplying food to larger enterprises, acting as a hallmark of reliability. The regular auditing process also encourages continuous improvement, driving businesses towards higher levels of operational efficiency and safety.

That’s why we run training courses across a variety of food safety standards such as:

• BRCGS Food Safety (Issue 9): Learn how to lead food safety audits using the BRCGS standard. Perfect for people who want to become professional food safety auditors.

• FSSC 22000 Version 6.0: Get up to speed with the FSSC 22000 food safety standard, what it is, how it works, and what’s changed in the latest version.

• SQF Systems – Manufacturing Edition 9: Learn how to put the SQF food safety standard into practice in a manufacturing environment. Great for people responsible for food safety systems.

Other food safety accreditation, like GFSI

How does GFSI accreditation enhance food safety protection?

GFSI accreditation allows businesses to be audited against rigorous safety standards, such as SQF, BRCGS, or FSSC 22000. These standards ensure organisations have robust internal and supplier audit programs, providing an additional layer of protection.

Additionally, accreditation is often a prerequisite for trading or supplying food to larger enterprises, acting as a hallmark of reliability. The regular auditing process also encourages continuous improvement, driving businesses towards higher levels of operational efficiency and safety.

That’s why we run training courses across a variety of food safety standards such as:

• BRCGS Food Safety (Issue 9): Learn how to lead food safety audits using the BRCGS standard. Perfect for people who want to become professional food safety auditors.

• FSSC 22000 Version 6.0: Get up to speed with the FSSC 22000 food safety standard, what it is, how it works, and what’s changed in the latest version.

• SQF Systems – Manufacturing Edition 9: Learn how to put the SQF food safety standard into practice in a manufacturing environment. Great for people responsible for food safety systems.

Building a food safety culture

How do you create a strong food safety culture within an organisation?

Developing a great food safety culture starts with leadership. Management teams must understand their responsibilities and allocate sufficient resources, including staff, time, and finances, to support safe food practices.

It is important to remember that safety culture isn’t confined to leadership. It should permeate every part of the organisation, becoming a shared responsibility. When everyone is committed to doing the right thing consistently, businesses can produce food they can truly take pride in.

Learn how to build a strong food safety culture with these accredited courses:

• Internal Food Safety Auditor ISO22000:2018 & ISO19011:2018: Learn how to carry out internal food safety audits in your workplace using international standards. Great for quality or compliance team members.

• Quality Assurance and Food Safety Management: Understand how to manage food safety and quality in a business. A practical course for anyone involved in food production or QA.

• Lead Food Safety Auditor ISO 22000:2018 & ISO 19011:2018: Become a certified lead auditor in food safety. Learn how to lead audits using international standards and take your auditing career to the next level.

Skills for food safety professionals

What other skills are vital in food safety?

Along with HACCP expertise, food safety professionals need in-depth knowledge of food safety legislation, inherent product risks, allergen management, hygiene, and quality systems.

Equally important are strong interpersonal skills. Professionals must be adept at fostering collaboration across the organisation and navigating challenging conversations. This blend of technical expertise and soft skills ensures they can effectively drive improvements and maintain high standards.

Add to your food safety skills with these career defining courses:

• Managing Food Fraud and Food Defence using VACCP and TACCP: Learn how to prevent food fraud and protect against threats in the food supply using VACCP and TACCP. Essential for anyone managing food safety risks.

• Food Legislation and Labelling: Understand the rules around food labels and what must be included. Great for anyone working with food packaging or compliance.

• Food Microbiology for Non-Microbiologists: Learn how microbes affect food safety, no science degree required. A practical guide for food industry professionals who want to understand the basics.

The future of food safety

What trends do you see shaping the future of food?

The demand for sustainable, affordable food options continues to grow, as does the need for diet-related health improvements. This has led to rapid innovation in areas like alternative proteins, such as non-meat sources, and tailored solutions catering to individual dietary needs.

However, these advances also bring new challenges. With each emerging trend comes the potential for novel hazards, making it critical for innovation to prioritise food safety at every stage.

World Food Safety Day 2025 reminds us of the essential role food safety professionals play in protecting consumers. By combining structured frameworks like HACCP, fostering strong organisational cultures, and staying ahead of emerging trends, we can meet the challenges of tomorrow while safeguarding our food systems today.

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Boost your career in food safety with accredited training

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