Beyond Food Labelling: Educating consumers on maintaining food product safety

Food manufacturers and retailers can spend a lot of time, money and resources to make sure that the food they produce is safe to eat. In today’s global marketplace, this is a basic consumer expectation. In recognizing this, how much responsibility should the consumer then take for food safety, post-sale?  

If we believe 100% responsibility, all players in the food chain need to ensure the highest level of food product education is available.

Session Outcomes

In this presentation, which was recorded during the recent IFSQN Food Safety Live 2018, innovative ways, in addition to labeling, to further educate your customer and/or consumer on how to ensure the safety of your food product will be explored.

From preparation and handling instructions to allergen identification, this presentation emphasizes how to use social media and technology to increase product knowledge.

Through the demonstration of easy tools and effective social media education campaigns, cost effective ideas are presented to allow the food industry to implement consumer education in no time at all.

Global Burden of Foodborne Diseases

The global burden of foodborne diseases show almost 1 in 10 people fall ill every year from eating contaminated food and 420,000 die as a result. The World Health Organisation reported these figures in December 2015. What is unclear however, is the true quantity of illness or injury caused by incorrect food handling practices, which originate in the home.

Risk Communication

Globally, the primary mechanism for food safety risk communication is via food labeling. In the majority of countries, this is mandated through the regulatory framework, which requires information like ingredients, expiry dates, allergen status, storage and cooking instructions to be included on packaged foods. But does this go far enough in educating your customer or consumer about your product?

Do your customers read your product labeling or better still, do they understand what it means? According to UNESCO at least 758 million youth and adults, globally, cannot read and write.


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