Angela Lungu’s Post

Meet Thabang. He recently graduated with a National Diploma in Food Tech from UJ. Like many students, he studied food microbiology and quality assurance, learning the importance of safe food production. When he secured in-service training at a local peanut butter facility, he expected to put his knowledge to use. But the reality was different. Thabang found himself working on the production line, checking printing and assisting production staff—tasks far removed from what he studied. His diploma in food technology felt wasted, and instead of learning, he was filling gaps in the workforce. The specialized training he had hoped for was nowhere to be found. Sadly, Thabang’s story is common across the food industry. Many graduates who enter in-service training are used as cheap labor rather than given the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned at school. As a result, they leave their training with no real understanding of how the systems they studied function in practice. Now meet Sihle. She also completed a National Diploma and began in-service training at the same time as Thabang, but at a spice blending company in Johannesburg. Her experience was completely different. Sihle’s company recognized their responsibility and gave her the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals. She participated in audits, learned about hazard control, and became good in explaining the food safety systems. While Thabang spent his days on the line, Sihle was immersed in the world of food safety, gaining valuable experience. By the end of her training, she was ready to step into a role at any company that utilized the same food safety management system she was trained in, while Thabang was left disillusioned and unsure about his future. This contrast is stark, and the issue is serious. Around 60% of technical graduates struggle to find positions that match their qualifications, often due to inadequate training during their in-service period. Instead of using graduates as extra hands on the line, we need to view in-service training as an investment in the future of the industry. South Africa’s food industry, already facing challenges in meeting global safety standards, is missing a significant opportunity by not training graduates like Thabang to their full potential. The solution is clear: companies must provide structured training programs, like the one Sihle received, that offer real-world experience and mentorship. By investing in these young professionals, the food industry can build a stronger, more capable workforce, ensuring that food safety systems are upheld and that future leaders in food safety are well-prepared for the challenges ahead. In-service training should be about more than just filling labor gaps—it should be about preparing the next generation of food safety leaders.

FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS: are leading the charge ✝️ Food Safety leaders encounter numerous obstacles in their field. ✔️ They shoulder the weighty burden of safeguarding public health ✔️ Juggle substantial workloads, & ✔️ Are expected to possess knowledge in various areas ✝️ While many excel in technical proficiency. some overlook the importance of interpersonal skills crucial for effective Team Leadership, influence & strategic planning ✔️ Consequently, food safety leaders aren't seen as vital collaborators who actively enhance systems, structures, & organizational culture to align with business objectives ✝️ A food safety leader must understand the science of food safety & the business pressures to run a business with a profit ✔️ Must also know where the next risk is coming from by staying well connected with the scientific & Regulatory changes that drive food safety ✔️ When they do things correctly, it will help reduce illnesses & deaths associated with foodborne pathogens 🔥 But there are issues that get in the way of that mission, Chief among them, the fact that leadership doesn't always recognize this role as an essential job 🔥 The perception is that the work they do doesn't have any ROI ✔️ This is clearly a misnomer because the work that they do everyday protects the brand & the public 📛 They help keep food businesses remain in business because of what they do EVERY DAY ✝️ The most successful food safety leaders must continously learn new skills & food safety methods ✔️ Help others in the business learn & execute important food safety controls ✔️ Must be able to Juggle many different hats to do the job well ❌️ Help facilitate food safety culture, & share what they have learned with the industry at large. Gets better at preventing foodborne diseases ✝️ ✅️ Advise for those hoping to succeed as food safety leaders someday: 🧞♀️ Find a mentor to help navigate the role 🧞♀️ learn how to keep up with change & risks & new regulations 🧞♀️ Build a network of outside supports you can rely on to help you both scientifically, regulator[ily], & in understanding risks 🧞♀️ Be a listener & develop a strong relationship both with senior management & down to the line workers ✔️ Implementing a savvy food safety culture among staff is a vital requirement for any strong food safety leader, & nurturing that element is essential ✝️ Every food company already has a food safety culture ✔️ The bigger question is whether the food safety culture is supporting the business outcomes needed to empower team members & protect the brand ❌️ Remember, no one person can solve all plant problems by themselves; it is a collaborative effort. ✔️ Listening. Learning, & Thinking broadly for creative solutions helps to create a NEW LEADER IN YOU! info@haccpacademy.com.ng #QUALITY #qualityassurance #QAPROFESSIONALS #leadership #QualityLeaders #manufacturing #CEO #norfund #training #fao #usaid #gain #hospitality

FOOD SAFETY PROFESSIONALS: are leading the charge ✝️ Food Safety leaders encounter numerous obstacles in their field. ✔️ They shoulder the weighty burden of safeguarding public health ✔️ Juggle substantial workloads, & ✔️ Are expected to possess knowledge in various areas ✝️ While many excel in technical proficiency. some overlook the importance of interpersonal skills crucial for effective Team Leadership, influence & strategic planning ✔️ Consequently, food safety leaders aren't seen as vital collaborators who actively enhance systems, structures, & organizational culture to align with business objectives ✝️ A food safety leader must understand the science of food safety & the business pressures to run a business with a profit ✔️ Must also know where the next risk is coming from by staying well connected with the scientific & Regulatory changes that drive food safety ✔️ When they do things correctly, it will help reduce illnesses & deaths associated with foodborne pathogens 🔥 But there are issues that get in the way of that mission, Chief among them, the fact that leadership doesn't always recognize this role as an essential job 🔥 The perception is that the work they do doesn't have any ROI ✔️ This is clearly a misnomer because the work that they do everyday protects the brand & the public 📛 They help keep food businesses remain in business because of what they do EVERY DAY ✝️ The most successful food safety leaders must continously learn new skills & food safety methods ✔️ Help others in the business learn & execute important food safety controls ✔️ Must be able to Juggle many different hats to do the job well ❌️ Help facilitate food safety culture, & share what they have learned with the industry at large. Gets better at preventing foodborne diseases ✝️ ✅️ Advise for those hoping to succeed as food safety leaders someday: 🧞♀️ Find a mentor to help navigate the role 🧞♀️ learn how to keep up with change & risks & new regulations 🧞♀️ Build a network of outside supports you can rely on to help you both scientifically, regulator[ily], & in understanding risks 🧞♀️ Be a listener & develop a strong relationship both with senior management & down to the line workers ✔️ Implementing a savvy food safety culture among staff is a vital requirement for any strong food safety leader, & nurturing that element is essential ✝️ Every food company already has a food safety culture ✔️ The bigger question is whether the food safety culture is supporting the business outcomes needed to empower team members & protect the brand ❌️ Remember, no one person can solve all plant problems by themselves; it is a collaborative effort. ✔️ Listening. Learning, & Thinking broadly for creative solutions helps to create a NEW LEADER IN YOU! info@haccpacademy.com.ng #QUALITY #qualityassurance #QAPROFESSIONALS #leadership #QualityLeaders #manufacturing #CEO #norfund #training #fao #usaid #gain #hospitality

Boost your career in food safety with ISO 22000 certification for individuals. Learn its benefits, process, and career opportunities in this comprehensive guide. #iso22000 #isocertification #iso22000certification

Food Safety Alert ( INDIA)- 145 - Alarming Trends in FSSAI FoSTaC Training Partner Performance Recently, FSSAI released the performance report for its training partners, revealing a shocking statistic: over 50% of the partners are classified as non-performing or underperforming. Notably, 69 training partners did not conduct a single FoSTaC training in FY 2023-24. This raises serious concerns about the competency of officials in the FSSAI Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) department. The majority of empaneled trainers are left without work due to the poor performance of training partners. FSSAI’s failure to establish a clear roadmap to train over 5 crore food business operators (FBOs) is alarming. Decisions made by non-competent officials in the training department seem to be jeopardizing the FoSTaC vision. Some of the most concerning decisions taken by FSSAI include: 1- Online training for small FBOs (2-7 employees) and students has been halted. 2- Training materials haven’t been updated for the past five years. 3- Online training is now limited to large FBOs with more than two premises. 4- A trainer fee of ₹5000 + GST has been introduced, previously there was no fee. 5- Training partner issues are neither identified nor resolved by the FoSTaC team. 6- No financial or training facility support is provided to training partners by FSSAI. 7- Despite FoSTaC training being mandatory, licenses are issued without the requisite certification. 8- Training partners are restricted from using the FoSTaC/FSSAI logos for promoting their Food Safety Training programs while participants certificate has both FoSTaC & FSSAI logos, it is contradictory. 9- State governments are inviting FoSTaC training bids at extremely low prices from empaneled partners. 10- Refresher training for trainers is held offline without travel or accommodation allowances from FSSAI. These decisions are stifling the potential of training partners and trainers, pushing many towards non-performance, which ultimately harms India’s food safety environment. Association of Consumer Protection (ACP) urges the MoHFW to investigate the competency of FSSAI FoSTaC department and introduce a new Competent Officers/ scheme to revive and support empanelled training partners and trainers. The current trajectory is detrimental to the food safety landscape in India, as the performance of training partners and trainers continues to deteriorate. If Training Partner Performance = Zero, then Trainer Performance = Zero, leading to a Failure of FoSTaC Mission and a Misuse of Taxpayer Money. Food Safety Everyone's Business. Narendra Modi Department of Consumer Affairs Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI Publication MOFPI Government of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India World Health Organization Indira Gandhi National Open University FDA FICCI ITCFSAN Confederation of Indian Industry #india #food #science #healthcare #quality

🌈 Excelling Beyond Boundaries in Food Safety: An Enlightening Dialogue with Chiara Di Pietro 🌈 In an enlightening conversation with the visionary Chiara Di Pietro, we explored the depths of innovation and commitment in the realm of food safety and quality assurance. Chiara, with her profound expertise in Integrated Food Safety Management System (IFSMS), shared captivating insights that not only shed light on her vast knowledge but also her instrumental role in revolutionizing food safety standards. Here’s a deeper dive into our discussion: 🌟 Mastering Collaboration for Safety: Chiara eloquently highlighted the transformative strategy of collaborating closely with suppliers to secure a group certification. This ingenious move not only elevates the safety and traceability of the final products but also smartly economizes the certification costs. Chiara's strategic foresight in unifying quality and production standards across the company and its suppliers is a testament to her exceptional command over IFSMS principles. 💼 Strategic Efficiency and Cost Mastery: Under Chiara's leadership, the integration of IFSMS has catalyzed remarkable synergies between the company and its suppliers. This has not only streamlined production efficiency but has also brought about significant cost reductions. 🔎 Data-Driven Quality Enhancement: With an acute analytical approach, Chiara has steered the implementation of stringent controls and comprehensive data analyses. This meticulous process enhances the food safety levels at the production site and ensures the utmost quality of the finished products. 🌍 Championing Supplier Engagement & Sustainability: Achieving overarching control from suppliers to consumers, Chiara has masterfully reduced food waste and enhanced production practices. Her commitment to fostering deep-rooted collaboration and achieving common goals with suppliers has not only minimized production non-conformities but also propelled the industry towards sustainable practices. 📚 Cultivating Continuous Improvement: Chiara's dedication to excellence is evident through rigorous monthly internal audits and relentless performance monitoring. This relentless pursuit of excellence has significantly minimized internal and external non-conformities, bolstering customer satisfaction and elevating certification scores. Chiara Di Pietro stands as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and dedication in the food safety domain. Her profound understanding of IFSMS, coupled with her relentless drive for excellence, has positioned her as a distinguished leader who has contributed significantly to enhancing food quality and safety standards. Let's celebrate the extraordinary achievements of Chiara Di Pietro, a true pioneer in the field of food safety, whose unparalleled knowledge and dedication have set new benchmarks for quality and efficiency. #FoodSafetyExcellence #IFSMSInnovation #ChiaraDiPietro #QualityLeadership #SustainableSafety Chiara Di Pietro

🌟 Day 3 of our Food Safety Culture series is here! Today, we're diving into the importance of sustaining and improving a strong food safety culture over time. 🍽️ Maintaining a robust food safety culture can be a challenge, but it is crucial for the well-being of both customers and employees. Consistency is key in upholding high standards and ensuring that food safety remains a top priority in your organization. To continually improve and reinforce food safety culture, it is essential to follow best practices and strategies. Here are some tips . Best Practices for Continual Improvement of Food Safety Culture: 🔶Develop a Clear Vision and Goals: Establish a precise vision of what food safety means to your organization and set SMART goals aligned with this vision. 🔶Lead by Example: Demonstrate commitment to food safety from top leadership down to all levels of the organization. Leaders should embody the values and practices of food safety culture. 🔶Engage, Empower, and Recognize Employees: Foster an inclusive culture by engaging and empowering employees. Provide regular training, recognize good practices, and encourage innovation. Open communication channels to ensure employees feel heard and valued. 🔶Implement Robust Systems: Have strong systems in place, including proper documentation, efficient reporting mechanisms, thorough auditing processes, and a systematic approach to identifying and addressing issues. These systems support adherence to standards and enable continuous monitoring and improvement. 🔶Foster Continuous Improvement: Emphasize that food safety culture is a journey, not a destination. Regularly review systems, seek feedback, and make necessary changes to maintain high standards. Commit to continuous improvement to signal the organization's dedication to quality and safety. 🔶Emphasize Accountability: Encourage a culture of accountability where employees take ownership of errors, learn from mistakes, and focus on finding solutions. Avoid blame and instead focus on proactive approaches to maintaining quality and food safety standards. Identifying Weaknesses and Addressing Them Effectively: ✔️Regular Assessments: Conduct regular assessments to track progress and identify areas for improvement in food safety practices. ✔️Training and Awareness: Provide rigorous food safety training for new hires and ongoing training for all staff. Post signage in key areas to reinforce best practices and keep food safety top of mind. ✔️Establish Relationships: Build relationships with local health officials to stay informed about the latest food safety regulations and best practices. Utilize health inspections to set high standards for your operation. Let's all work together to create a culture of food safety excellence! 💪 If you found this post insightful, repost 🔁 for a wider reach 😊. Photo credits: Google #FoodSafetyCulture #ContinualImprovement #StrongFoundations

WHAT IS YOUR COMPANY'S FOOD SAFETY CULTURE? ✅️ One fundamental, yet pragmatic question is "what do employees do when management isn't looking? 🔋 Do you lead by example? or 🔋 are you part of the ones flaunting FS rules by entering: ✍️ production floor without the right PPE ✍️ not washing your hands, etc 📌 Right, your company may have a great food safety plan on paper 📌 it may have checked all the boxes 📌 your hazard analysis & recall plan may have been prestine, textbook exactly of building a cohesive food safety plan. 🔋 That's all terrific, but what really happens on the production floor? 📍 what happens in the daily processing environment? 📍 what does an employee do when they see or know something went wrong? 🔋 It is critical to engage employees & management- so that they feel supported in taking on food safety & dedicate themselves to following established protocols. 🔋 This is where the concept of "Food safety culture" comes into play. Food safety culture is, in essence the values, beliefs, & habits people share to ensure food is kept safe 🔋 Culture is a concept that requires a great deal of food safety demands authentic buy-in from all levels of employees, including: 📌 Those on the front lines 📌 The procurement department that feels empowered to make the right choices to get the right products 📌 A training coordinator who realizes food safety training is a core concept that should be featured during on boarding 📌 the executive level, who should know that food safety can contribute to a healthy bottom line ✅️ Here are 4 practical areas you can target to help measure the wellness of your food safety culture: ✔️ PROVIDE CONTINUOUS TRAINING- training should be thought of as continuous & holistic in your organization ✔️ EDUCATION-is training available to employees when they join your team? ✔️ COLLABORATION-do you provide training across departmental lines? ✔️ EFFECTIVENESS- how frequently are trainings offered throughout the year? ✅️ GIVE REGULAR FEEDBACK- to holistically understand how effective your training programs are, consider implementing a program of assessments, conversions, & organizational involvement by personnel ✅️ BUILD ON AUDIT RESULTS- internal inspections should be part of regular compliance ✅️ TAKE STOCK OF OBJECTIVES FOR FOOD SAFETY & CELEBRATE WINS- it helps to know what your targets are going to be & how to structure them. 📌 forming a cadence of recognition & rewards is a way to celebrate wins for the company ✅️ The more you emphasize the importance of food safety culture, the more you highlight an appreciation for doing the right thing & the more you reaffirm that food safety is top mind & that everyone can MAKE A DIFFERENCE ✔️ Everyone has a role to play in the creation & maintenance of a food safety culture in YOUR OPERATION info@haccpacademy.com.ng, study@haccpacademy.com.ng, #foodsafetyculture #manufacturing #food #employeeengagement #training #foodsafetytips

FOOD SAFETY CULTURE NUDGE OF THE WEEK: lessons from our dogs The bond between humans and dogs is often celebrated for unwavering loyalty, unconditional love, and companionship. Beyond the emotional benefits, this special relationship can offer an unexpected advantage in an area often overlooked: food safety. Did you know that dogs possess an extraordinary sense of smell, far surpassing human capabilities. This keen olfactory ability has been harnessed for centuries in various tasks, from hunting to search and rescue. However, its potential in safeguarding our food supply is often underestimated. Studies have demonstrated that dogs can be trained to detect harmful bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, with remarkable accuracy. Their ability to sniff out contaminated food products before they reach consumers can be a game-changer in preventing foodborne illnesses. I have witnessed this powerful sense of smell with my Lilly, pictured below, she can sniff out a cube of cheese three rooms away and will turn her nose up at the slightest off odor from her bowl. Beyond their keen since of smell, dogs are great observers. A loyal dog's keen observation skills can also contribute to a strong food safety culture. Their protective instincts often lead them to alert their owners to unusual activities or the presence of strangers. If we learn this skill from dogs, we can identify behaviors that serve as early warning signs of potential food safety breaches. For example, a dog might become agitated or protective around strange people in their yard or house. We should be equally alerted when unauthorized people are in a food processing facility, indicating a potential security risk. Similarly, we can learn from their sensitivity to changes in routine and this can help us identify deviations from established food safety protocols. The lessons of canine loyalty and attentiveness can be applied to foster a robust food safety culture within organizations. Just as a dog is always on guard, employees should be encouraged to maintain a vigilant approach to food safety practices. Training and Education: Similar to training a dog, employees require ongoing training and education to develop a keen sense of food safety awareness. Open Communication: A culture of open communication, where employees feel empowered to report potential hazards or concerns, is essential. Teamwork and Collaboration: Just as a dog works in tandem with its handler, employees should collaborate to protect the food supply. While dogs cannot replace traditional food safety measures, their unique abilities, and the qualities they embody can serve as a powerful metaphor for building a culture of vigilance and responsibility. By incorporating canine-inspired principles into food safety programs, we can create a safer and more secure food supply for everyone.

It is a great pleasure to share a valuable resource (video) for understanding Food Safety Management Systems within the food manufacturing industry. The Asian Productivity Organization has created this insightful YouTube video that serves as a best practice guide on Food Safety Management System applications at a production site. I have collaborated on impactful projects with the Asian Productivity Organization in 2023, including the "Special Program for Capacity Building of Sustainable Food Value Chains for Enhanced Food Safety and Quality in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka," and the "National Conference on Capacity Building of Sustainable Food Value Chains for Enhanced Food Safety and Quality and Digitalization in Vietnam." This video offers practical, step-by-step guidance on factory management procedures to ensure food safety, with a major focus on preventing food poisoning. It’s a must-watch for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge of food safety protocols and elevate their operational standards. I hope you will find this resource as beneficial as I have. Here’s to elevating best practices and ensuring the highest standards in food safety! #FoodSafety #ManufacturingExcellence #AsianProductivityOrganization #BestPractices #FoodManufacturing #PublicHealth