Lecture on Food Alert, Food Traceability and Product Recall by Dr. Prabodh Halde

Summary

In this video, Dr. Promote Holiday, President-Elect of FST CFTR, explains the critical concepts of food alert systems, traceability, and product recalls. The script covers the comprehensive definition of food, the role of food authorities in issuing alerts, and the importance of traceability for tracking and recalling potentially harmful products. Dr. Holiday elaborates on the two key types of traceability—backward and forward—and outlines the necessary steps for effective food recalls, highlighting the roles of food business operators, state authorities, and the central food authority. This knowledge ensures public safety and regulatory compliance in the food industry.

Takeaways

• 😀 Food alerts are issued by the Food Authority to inform local authorities and consumers about food safety issues that may require action or awareness.
• 😀 Food alerts can be issued for both imported and domestic food products that present health risks or safety concerns.
• 😀 Traceability in food production is essential for identifying the source and movement of food products, and it is defined by ISO 22000 as the ability to track the product through its entire lifecycle.
• 😀 There are two components of traceability: backward traceability (tracking ingredients to their origin) and forward traceability (tracking the movement of the product through the supply chain).
• 😀 The traceability system helps in identifying and addressing food safety issues by locating problematic products quickly in the food chain.
• 😀 Proper documentation of traceability, including batch numbers and manufacturing dates, is crucial for efficient food recalls.
• 😀 Food recalls are mandatory when a food product is identified as a threat to public health, and the food business operator must initiate the recall process.
• 😀 Food business operators, state food authorities, and the central Food Authority (FSSAI) all have specific roles in managing and supervising food recalls.
• 😀 The food recall process involves multiple stages, including assembling a team, notifying authorities, identifying affected products, and ensuring the recall is effectively implemented.
• 😀 Retailers are excluded from direct responsibility in the food recall process, which is primarily managed by manufacturers, importers, and wholesalers.

Q & A

What is the definition of food as per the FSSAI Act?

Food is defined in the FSSAI Act as any substance intended for human consumption, including processed foods, agricultural and animal products, genetically modified foods, infant food, packaged drinking water, chewing gum, and substances used in food preparation. However, it excludes animal feed, live animals not processed for human consumption, plants before harvest, and certain drugs and cosmetics.

What are the two types of food alerts issued by the Food Authority?

The two types of food alerts are informational alerts, which notify the public of food safety issues, and actionable alerts, which provide specific instructions for actions to be taken, such as product withdrawals or recalls.

How can consumers access information about food alerts?

Consumers can access food alerts through the FSSAI website, which provides a search engine for recent food alerts issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

What is the purpose of food traceability?

Food traceability is the ability to track and document the movement of food products through production, processing, and distribution stages. It is crucial for identifying the source of food safety issues and ensuring that products can be recalled if necessary.

What are the two components of food traceability?

The two components of food traceability are tracing, which involves tracking the origin of ingredients and processing steps, and tracking, which focuses on following the movement of products from the manufacturer to the retailer.

Why is traceability important in the case of a food recall?

Traceability is important because it allows authorities to quickly identify and locate affected products, ensuring they can be effectively recalled. Without traceability, recalling a product would be much more difficult and time-consuming.

What is backward traceability?

Backward traceability refers to the ability to track a product's ingredients and production history, identifying where and how the product was made, which is essential in the event of a food safety issue.

What is forward traceability?

Forward traceability refers to tracking the movement of a product through the supply chain, from the manufacturing plant to the distributor and retailer, ensuring that affected products can be identified and removed from various locations if necessary.

What are the key steps in the food recall process?

The key steps in the food recall process include assembling a recall team, notifying authorities, identifying impacted businesses and individuals, segregating affected products, checking the effectiveness of the recall, providing interim reports, and terminating the recall once it is completed.

Who is responsible for initiating a food recall?

The food business operator is responsible for initiating a food recall when a food safety issue is identified. The operator must stop the distribution of affected products and notify the relevant authorities.