Page 44 - FoodFocusThailand No.190 January 2022

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factors related to a pandemic. By organizing their crisis • Altering production, shift and break schedules to minimize crowding
management teams to assess the “what ifs” and determine all • Adding face masks, shields, and gloves to required PPE and providing
possible impacts, companies can begin to structure a sound proper use training
strategy to address the challenges and mitigate the fallout of • Ensuring adherence to enhanced hygiene and sanitation procedures
the COVID-19 crisis and other unforeseen crises. Conducting During the COVID-19 crisis, it is especially critical that companies assign
a “crisis within a crisis” simulation exercise will test the dedicated monitoring resources to constantly manage new control measures at
adequacy of an organization’s situation, recall, and business every stage in food manufacturing, processing, and handling to keep their
continuity plans and assess the capabilities of its people, workforce and customers safe.
processes, and systems under strained conditions.
Sustaining Regulatory Compliance Food producers need to remain current
Maintaining a Culture of Safety The impacts of the 4 and compliant with complex and ever-evolving regulatory requirements
2COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a reduction in the precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has created unprecedented
workforce due to illnesses, quarantine, anxiety, and fear of uncertainty and confusion in dealing with legal liability and regulatory compliance
returning to work. Simultaneously, manufacturers are operating consequences.
at the capacity created by the surge and shifts in demand. To maintain compliance with regulatory and best practice food safety
Manufacturers are temporarily moving untrained people into measures, it is important that food manufacturers must concentrate on reviews
new roles or hiring temporary help to combat these concerns. of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Food Safety Management
This impacts efficiency, quality, and potentially food safety Systems (FSMS) such as HACCP programs, or ISO to ensure current practices
through mistakes in manufacturing or a potential lack of proper are effective. While on-site audits may not currently be possible, some certification
process controls, leading to a higher risk of a product recall bodies offer extensions upon meeting specific criteria. Non-standard remote or
incident. virtual audits may be conducted but not replace standard audits for certification
It is essential to maintain a food safety culture by ensuring purposes. Impartial third-party audits, assessments, and document reviews
all workers receive proper training to understand good focus on ensuring gaps are addressed, and additional preventive controls and
manufacturing practices and food safety measures to minimize corrective actions are implemented as needed.
this risk.
Building a Resilient Supply Chain The COVID-19 crisis has impacted
Establish Robust Monitoring Systems While close 5every step in the supply chain from farm to fork. The availability of products,
3contact can occur anywhere in food manufacturing affected by products held at ports or delays in transportation, has strained
environments, social distancing is especially difficult on suppliers and manufacturers by surge and shift in demand for their products
production lines where workers are typically within inches of overwhelming. One way to address this issue is to diversify their customer base
one another. Manufacturers have slowed lines and distanced and increase customers in close geographical areas, thereby minimizing delays
workers as much as feasibly possible, but production facilities at ports and borders. Likewise, as supplier contract renewals come up,
running at maximum capacity may not fully follow social manufacturers will be looking to diversify their supply chains and bring suppliers
distancing guidelines. closer to home to avoid the challenges and disruptions they are currently facing.
Manufacturers have enhanced their food safety measures, The current situation that food manufacturers face is to consider what will
stringent hygiene practices, and sanitation schedule frequency. happen in the post-pandemic circumstance and how to adjust their companies
Establishing robust monitoring will be a key part of mitigating to this new normal. However, the procedures or practices of risk management
the risks of exposure and tracking any infection-related trends. described in this article are the general measures for helping food manufacturers
Some of these actions may include: get through this crisi effectively and affect the least impact on their business.
• Screening everyone for COVID-19 symptoms and Yet, these measures may evolve into a so-called “new normalcy” that food and
exposure before the entrance to the premises beverage producers will need to keep an eye on.
• Changing traffic patterns in the facility to reduce exposure
to others
More Information Service Info C004

เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
https://www.controlrisks.com/campaigns/recall-management/how-food-and-beverage-
companies-are-rethinking-crisis-management-amid-covid-19
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01854/full

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