Food safety is evolving. With the passing of the Food Safety Modernization Act, progressing technology, and more people developing food allergies, staying informed and trained on the latest trends and studies is essential in the food safety industry. This month we explore the importance of training and how professional development helps set your team up for success.
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INDUSTRY UPDATES & TRENDS
WHAT WE'RE READING
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1.) Anatomy of a Recall - via Food Safety News
“
It seems we hear about food recalls more frequently. To understand what is happening let’s look at food recalls in terms of responsible government agencies, causes, classifications and regulations.
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Read the rest of the story on Food Safety News
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2.) Soft Skills are Hard to Measure and in Demand. Can they Be Taught? - via Fortune
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No doubt about it, so-called soft skills—those hard-to-measure talents like empathy, adaptability, and a knack for communicating your ideas—need a new name. “‘Soft’ sounds weak, or somehow less important than ‘hard’ or technical skills. That’s completely wrong,” says Heide Abelli, senior vice president for product development at Skillsoft. The company designs and delivers training courses to about 140 million employees in 160 countries around the world. “We refer to them as ‘power skills,’ because, without them, people’s technical skills aren’t running on all cylinders.
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3.) FDA's New Food Recall Recommendations Focus on Training, Recordkeeping, and Procedures - via Food Safety Magazine
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new
draft guidance
that, when finalized, will provide industry with clear information on ways to prepare, plan, and work with the agency to ensure voluntary food product recalls are initiated properly and promptly. The draft guidance, entitled “Initiation of Voluntary Recalls Under 21 CFR Part 7, Subpart C,” includes recommendations in three key areas: Training, Record-keeping, and Procedures."
Read the rest of the story on Food Safety Magazine
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4.) Blockchain Can't Fix Slavery, but it Might Help - via Asia Times
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5.) How Some Manufacturers Secure Store Display Spots to Crush Competition - Via NPR
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It's no accident that some products are placed near the supermarket register or on those shelves that are like at eye-level. Manufacturers pay fees to secure certain spots, to crush the competition. Sally Herships and Cardiff Garcia, from our podcast The Indicator From Planet Money, explain why the grocery store shelf is one of the most competitive and contentious arenas in business.
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Read the rest of the story on NPR
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UPCOMING CLASSES AND TRAINING
LEARN AND LEAD - SPRING & SUMMER 2019
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Learning Lunch:
Proficiency Testing in preparation for your SQF audit
June 6, 2019 - @ 12:00PM - 1:00PM US-Eastern
Cost: FREE
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Quality Auditing SQF Systems - Chicago, IL
(1 Day)
June 21, 2019 - @ 8:30am - 5:00pm
Cost: $375
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SQF Professional Update - July 17
July 17, 2019 - @ 12:00pm - 4:00pm US-Eastern
Cost:
$150
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Auditing SQF Systems - Sydney, Australia
(4 Day)
September 16 - 19, 2019
Cost:
$1300
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2019 SQF Conference in
San Antonio, TX
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JW Marriott Hill Country Resort
November 5 - 7, 2019
Cost: Varies
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SQFI UPDATE
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SQFI
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Technical, Training, and Compliance Update
- Current and pending regulatory changes in many jurisdictions with respect to the use of cannabis, cannabis concentrates and hemp products will require SQFI to provide updated tools and communication to industry stakeholders. To facilitate the proper review of regulations and best practices and production of tools and communication, SQFI has formed a working group to tackle this issue.
- SQFI Training is hosting a learning lunch on proficiency testing and partnering with EAS on a webinar on food defense. The proficiency testing learning lunch is scheduled for June 6th @ 12:00PM Eastern, US. Click here to register. The food defense webinar is scheduled for June 17th @ 1:00PM Eastern, US. Click here to register.
- SQF Technical Code Clarification. This month’s topic—2.7.1.3- Challenging the site’s food defense program. Sites are expected to review and challenge their food defense program at least annually. This means that the site shall evaluate the logic or the premise of the food defense program, that was used in determining the threat analysis, and establish whether it has changed or if new threats have been identified. Challenging the program could be a mock test of a program based on a fictitious scenario on a mock threat. For example, if the scenario is that a security camera has been sabotaged or a lock is opened, what are the steps the site would do to ensure that the site has not been compromised. Questions the site may ask include:
- Has there been any employee movements (union unrest, redundancies, staff dismissals) in the past year that could change the treat level imposed by disgruntled employees.
- Have there been any political, geopolitical or community events that could impact the threat level.
- Any changes to material suppliers that could impact the threat level, or
- Any changes to building access, process points etc that could impact the threat level.
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Marketing, Communications, and Sales Update
- Our team has been working closely with members of the National Restaurant Association to launch the new SQF Food Safety Code for Food Service, which is now available on the SQFI website.
- We are going to have a busy travel schedule this June! SQFI will be attending the IFT convention in New Orleans, the AFDO Conference in Atlanta, and the Fancy Foods Show in New York. Be sure to stop by the SQF booths to get the latest updates on SQF!
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Business Operations, Database, and Customer Service Update
- The customer service team has been busy fulfilling requests for database registration assistance, training overviews, invoicing and accounting issues, Certification Body assistance, and also providing general information about the SQF Program.
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FEATURED RESOURCES
SQFI AUDITING SCHOLARSHIP
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FMI Foundation Scholarship
The critical issue for accredited third-party auditing in North America is to source the next generation of well-trained auditors. As a way to help fill that gap, the FMI Foundation is sponsoring scholarships to students currently enrolled in food and agricultural science majors who have a true interest in the field of accredited food safety auditing.
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Visit the FMI Foundation Scholarship website to access the application and additional details. Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 / 2020 Academic Year!
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SQFI UPDATE
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SQFI
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SQFI UPDATE
SQFI TRAINING SPOTLIGHT
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Why attend a professional update?
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The SQF Professional Update is an interactive online learning session where SQF Professionals (auditors, trainers, and consultants) receive essential updates on the SQF Program and gain the opportunity to ask our technical experts questions related to the SQF code or program.
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This interactive webinar provides attendees an opportunity to learn about
updates to the SQF program including the SQF Code, edition 8, current results from the Compliance and Integrity Program, enhancements to the SQF assessment database, and more!
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Note: The four-hour SQF Professional Update is a
requirement for SQF Professionals (Auditors, Consultants, and Trainers)
seeking annual re-registration with the SQF program - however, anyone may attend.
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FEATURED TRAINING
TRAINING COURSES OFFERED AT THE 2019 SQF CONFERENCE
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Join us in San Antonio this November to take advantage of the largest selection of SQF training offered in one place, at one time.
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The
SQF Professional Update
is a requirement for SQF Professionals (auditors, consultants, and trainers) seeking annual re-registration with the SQF Program, but anyone is welcome to participate. Always presented by a member of SQFI’s technical team, the update covers details on the SQF Code, edition 8, results from the Compliance and Integrity Programs, a GFSI update including a bench-marking status report, and a summary of training initiatives.
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The
Advanced SQF Practitioner
course is an activity-based course designed for the current SQF practitioner who is seeking further education on how to improve and maintain their company’s SQF System. The Advanced SQF Practitioner course provides the tools needed to improve and advance the food safety system in the facility and manage the ongoing maintenance of the SQF Program.
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SQFI has developed the
Fundamentals Program for Food Manufacturing
for small- and medium-sized suppliers who don’t yet have a robust food safety management program in place or want to be sure their existing program meets the expectations of retailers. Participants will be guided through an exploration of the components that, along with their food safety plan, make up the SQF Fundamentals Code. This 2-day course uses a learner-centered approach to engage attendees and allow them to take ownership of their learning.
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The goal of the Implementing the SQF
Foodservice Code
training course is to provide knowledge of the SQF Food Safety Code for Foodservice, edition 8 to the SQF professional including the practitioner and other food industry professionals.
The Implementing the SQF Foodservice Code course is a critical first step in understanding the implementation of the System Elements and Module 13 of the SQF Foodservice Code and provides an overview of certification processes.
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This one-day course is ideal for those already familiar with
quality management
principles, such as SQF quality practitioners or SQF quality auditors, but who need to understand how to apply quality tools in the implementation of the
SQF Quality Code
. The course will address the impact of quality parameters on the site’s product and operation, assist sites in understanding how the SQF Quality Code aligns with food safety and allow learners to apply quality tools and techniques to implementation of the SQF Quality Code.
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The
GFSI Auditor Competency Exam
is based on the content of the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements and is designed to assess competency across a range of skills. Beginning June 2019, auditors applying to
GFSI-recognized certification
programs such as SQFI will be required to have successfully passed an exam based on the content of the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements. Existing auditors will be required to comply by December 2021. Stay on top of the requirement by taking the examination prior to the SQF Conference.
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Click the links below to explore additional classes offered at the
2019 SQF Conference in San Antonio!
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CONTACT, SURVEYS & REMINDERS
CONTACT SQFI
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SQFI Customer Service
Email - info@sqfi.com
Website - www.sqfi.com
Database Assistance - SQFI
Email - database@sqfi.com
Sales, Marketing and Sponsorship
Email - smalenich@sqfi.com
SQF Compliance /Technical (Code) Questions
Email - compliance@sqfi.com
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SQFI Out and About!
June 02 - June 05
- IFT
New Orleans, LA
June 22 - June 26
- AFDO
Atlanta, GA
June 23 - June 25
- Summer Fancy Foods Show, New York, NY
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