As consumers become more aware of just how safe their food is, it’s becoming increasingly important for food processors to adopt formal food safety programs.
“The Safe Food Branch of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development is surveying Alberta food processors to help refine current programs and resources, and develop new programs and resources in order to address the issues and challenges facing processors,” says Kelly Sawka, food safety specialist with Alberta Agriculture.
The purpose of the survey is to get information directly from processors in order to determine the status of food safety system implementation and HACCP certification in Alberta. Information garnered from the survey will help determine both the drivers and barriers for implementing food safety systems in our food processing industry.
Read Also
Alberta crop diversification centres receive funding
The Government of Alberta has pumped $5.2 million of provincial funding into crop diversity research centres in Edmonton and Brooks.
The landscape in food safety has changed enormously in the last several years, says Sawka. Requirements from buyers and retailers are becoming more stringent. “We need to stay in touch with what is happening in industry and the evolving needs of the Alberta food processors,” he says.
The survey is endorsed by the Canada -Alberta Partners in Food Safety (CAPiFS), an assembly of federal and provincial agencies that have responsibilities for food safety. CAPiFS members include ARD, Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Alberta Health and Wellness and Alberta Health Services.
The Safe Food Branch plans on surveying over 400 processors. If you are an Alberta food processor your feedback is tremendously valued. To ensure your participation in this important survey please forward your contact information to Kelly Sawka.
