Trust was ‘key issue’ at Food safety conference

In this exclusive video interview, Walker said food and drink manufacturers should trust regulators to work with them during this period of change, or risk losing the chance to build a mutual relationship.

“I think it was a great conference today, a great range of speakers,”​ said Walker. “For me, the key issues that came through were about trust, and that’s trust inside, between and within the industry.​

“But also, trust with the regulating authorities, because food safety is not a competitive issue. If we don’t have safe foods, we don’t have any foods to sell.​

‘Take the opportunity’​

“There has been a lot of discussion in the conference about some of the challenges and past histories ​[of trusting authorities]. But, at the moment we’re in a period of change with Brexit and with government changes. They seem to want to collaborate much better than we’ve seen before, and if we don’t take the opportunity, it may be lost for some years.”​

Also in this video, Walker said he expected viruses to top the food safety agenda at next year’s conference.

Walker said: “I think that in 2018, we’ll not just be looking at the microbiological safety issues, and not just the allergens. ​[But,] what are the chemical contaminants? What are the future of those?​

‘Looking at the viruses’​

“In terms of microbiological, I suspect we should be looking at the viruses.”​

Food Manufacture’s Food safety conference took place on June 22 at Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa. The conference was sponsored by: Checkit, Dycem, eurofins, Ishida, Pal International, Westgate Factory Dividers.

Meanwhile, don’t miss our exclusive video interview​ with Kolak Snack Foods head of technical Sterling Crew who explained how to instil a food safety culture from boardroom to shop floor.