By Scott R. Gane, CPP, Huffmaster

Enhancing Food Safety in 2024: The Role of Advanced Security Measures

The year 2024 witnessed significant foodborne illness outbreaks, including a serious Salmonella outbreak associated with cucumbers that resulted in 551 reported illnesses and 155 hospitalizations. Another alarming event involved Diamond Shruumz-brand edibles, leading to severe health consequences including hospitalizations and fatalities. In addition, Charcuterie meat products and Boar’s Head deli meats also faced recalls.

Understanding the Implications

These distressing incidents raise questions about the security and integrity of the food supply chain. A pivotal component in preventing such outbreaks is the adherence to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) . This legislation emphasizes a shift from merely responding to foodborne outbreaks to proactively preventing them. A key strength of the FSMA is the involvement of security departments in developing preventive measures.

The Foundation of FSMA

The FSMA enforces shared responsibility across the global food supply chain, applicable to both human and animal food. It stipulates necessary actions to prevent contamination, covering areas such as Preventive Controls for Human Foods and the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food. Among these guidelines, the Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food Against Intentional Adulteration requires the implementation of a food defense plan, highlighting the importance of assessing vulnerabilities within the food manufacturing process.

Building an Effective Defense Plan

An effective food defense plan must consist of identifying vulnerabilities, outlining actionable steps, and establishing mitigation strategies. Involving security personnel during vulnerability assessments is essential, allowing for a thorough understanding of potential adulteration points within facilities. Security teams possess deep knowledge of facility layouts and operational processes, making them integral to identifying risks and recommending solutions.

The Impact of High-Resolution Cameras

High-resolution security cameras equipped with AI analytics are proving to be an efficient solution for implementing effective mitigation strategies. These cameras can be programmed with “bounding boxes” around specific areas, triggering alerts for any suspicious activity. Security professionals trained to monitor these systems can take immediate action to prevent contamination and economic damage.

Moreover, AI-enabled cameras can significantly enhance monitoring compliance with hygiene and food handling regulations. For example, they can track handwashing, glove usage, and the overall cleanliness of food handling practices. By analyzing footage, AI algorithms can catch minor infractions, such as an employee touching their face, prompting immediate corrective actions to minimize risk.

These advanced cameras also detect potential cross-contamination, ensuring raw and cooked foods remain separate. They can identify improper ingredient usage and alert personnel to spills or other contaminants, thus maintaining industry cleanliness standards.

The Financial Implications of Inaction

The repercussions of foodborne illness outbreaks extend beyond health implications, leading to substantial financial losses. In 2024, the cost of foodborne illness incidents within the food industry was significant, with recalls costing approximately $10 million on average. Furthermore, labeling errors led to an estimated $1.92 billion in direct recall expenses, affecting company revenues and damaging reputations.

Conclusion: Proactive Security is Essential

Preventing food contamination must remain a top priority for food manufacturers to avoid costly investigations, legal troubles, and potential harm to consumers. The challenges of ensuring safety and compliance are numerous, including employee monitoring and protecting against break-ins.

With the assistance of security professionals, companies can transition from reactive to proactive approaches, utilizing advanced security technologies that guarantee real-time protection for consumers, brands, and reputations.

Scott R. Gane, CPP is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for Huffmaster, overseeing the management of operations, financial health, and security consulting initiatives.