GLOBAL FOOD SAFETY CONFERENCE 2014
Alchemy Systems: Food safety culture starts with your staff
Lance Lee, marketing specialist with Texas-based Alchemy Systems, told FoodProductionDaily securing and maximizing food safety requires the education and buy-in of its personnel.
“Ensuring a strong food safety culture starts with the people,” he said.
Human cost
Most of the expenses put forth by a food producer go toward equipment, utilities, raw materials, packaging, and other operational costs, Lee pointed out. Staff-related training makes up a relatively small slice of the pie, though people have the greatest impact on food safety.
“Personnel costs make up 10% of your overhead, but they account for 90% of the liability,” he said.
Customized training
Alchemy Systems specializes in providing food safety training tools, including its SISTEM program. The customized curriculum and learning tools guide food operations toward meeting training requirements, auditor expectation, and certification programs.
According to Lee, Alchemy’s SISTEM program can cultivate a strong, effective safety program; increase company productivity; ensure delivery of safe food products; and boost employee morale.
Lee spoke to FPD at the Global Food Safety Conference (GFSC) in Anaheim, California. GFSC is an annual program dedicated to food safety and security, produced by the Global Food Safety Initiative and the Consumer Goods Forum.