Safeguarding the global plate: The importance of a resilient Food Safety Management System (FSMS)

This World Food Safety Day as we highlight the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) 80th anniversary, we explore the importance of a globally, scalable food safety management system. 

In a world where ingredients cross borders and factories source components from multiple continents, global food supply chain enables variety, convenience, and economic opportunity but also it introduces complex risks; hence, food safety is no longer a local concern. The challenges of distance, cultural differences, regulatory variety and complex logistics only make food safety more critical. Yet, these same challenges also demand more robust systems – leadership, food safety culture, preventive controls, data feedback, certification, and continual improvement. 

The hidden complexity of global food chains 

Every time you bite into food that was grown, processed or packaged hundreds or thousands of kilometers away, you are relying on a hidden system of coordination, controls and trust.  Food doesn’t simply go from farm to plate anymore. It travels through a web of producers, processors, logistics providers, distributors, and retailers. Behind that bite lies a complex global food supply chain – and at every link in that chain, food safety must be non‑negotiable. 

Some of the major challenges in a global context include: 

• Divergent standards and regulations
  Different countries have different food safety regulations. What passes for “safe” in one country may be insufficient in another. Without a harmonised benchmark, exporters and importers must often manage multiple compliance frameworks simultaneously. Successful navigation of these variations is essential to maintain product integrity and meet market requirements. 

• Multiple handoffs and partners
  The more parties involved, the greater the chance that something slips through the cracks – whether it’s temperature control, hygiene practices, or documentation. 

• Traceability under pressure
  When ingredients and products are sourced and processed across multiple sites, tracking a food safety issue back to its origin can not only be time-consuming and costly but also exponentially difficult to find the root cause. 

• Cultural and operational differences
  Food safety values and practices can vary widely between countries, suppliers, and even teams within the same organisation. Ensuring consistent standards and values across a dispersed global chain is tough but essential. 

• Consumer, regulatory, and reputational risk
  A contamination or recall can cascade rapidly across borders. Brand damage, recalls, legal liabilities, and consumer health consequences can all scale along with your supply chain. 

Building and maintaining a globally reliable Food Safety System 

If your business aims to be a reliable participant in global food networks, effective food safety across the supply chain isn’t optional, it’s foundational. Food businesses must embed food safety into every layer of operations.

What does a strong global Food Safety Program look like? 

1. Leadership, commitment and alignment

Top level management must visibly and continually prioritise food safety, not just during annual mandatory audits but daily. 

Regardless of geography, every arm of the business should share a single vision for food safety performance and implement best practices.

2. Culture that transcends borders

Food safety culture isn’t a local commitment; it must be an organisational ethos that permeates every site and every link in the chain. It’s rooted in shared values and norms, not just enforcement. Each person, from field workers to executives, needs to understand and believe in the value of food safety.

3. Structured Systems and harmonised Standards

Global food safety programs should be built around preventive systems like HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), which help identify and control risks before they become problems. 

Benchmarked Standards – GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) fosters equivalency across food safety schemes so that certifications in one region are trusted in another. GFSI Standards such as BRCGS, FSSC 22000, SQF, all provide credible assurance that your food safety practices meet globally benchmarked standards – and can help you access international markets with greater ease. 

4. Continual auditing, measurement, and feedback loops

Relying on occasional audits or inspections is insufficient. Internal audits must be frequent and focused on whether systems are being followed, working, and relevant – not just whether they exist.  

Root cause analysis helps to dig beneath surface-level symptoms and identify the core issue. Non-conformances should not be treated as failures, but as opportunities to improve and eliminate existing concerns and mitigate the chance of future risks.

5. Adaptability and continual improvement

A system that is static is a system at risk. As supply chains evolve – new suppliers, new countries, new logistics – your FSMS must evolve too. Regularly review the system (policies, procedures, scope, resources) to ensure relevance. Push to exceed compliance expectations, not just meet them.

Why this matters — Globally and locally 

Risk control and consumer protection: The primary purpose is always to protect human health. As supply chains expand globally, risks magnify. Human health and safety are key focuses of FAO with the main goal of food security for all and making sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. 

Market access and reputation: Many markets demand GFSI-level certification. Without it, entry is uncertain or in some cases prohibited. 

Operational resilience: In the event of a contamination or recall, a well‑designed, traceable FSMS enables faster root cause identification and corrective action – often saving millions and preserving brand trust. 

Scalability and sustainability: Systems built with global considerations are better placed to scale, adapt, and support long-term growth. 

As global food systems grow more complex, the risks grow too. But with the right approach – grounded in leadership, culture, prevention, and continual improvement – businesses can turn food safety into a competitive advantage. 

Whether you’re sourcing internationally or exporting to new markets, your food safety program must be strong enough to handle the pressure, and flexible enough to adapt.