How does SQF approach risk management in food safety?

The SQF approach to risk management focuses on prioritizing and managing risks associated with food safety hazards throughout the production process. This is essential in ensuring that potential hazards are identified, assessed, and controlled systematically.

By focusing on the entire production process, SQF encourages rigorous assessments at each stage, allowing for the identification of points where food safety risks may arise. This proactive approach enables organizations to implement controls and prevent unsafe food from reaching consumers. Effective risk management involves continuous monitoring and improvement of food safety practices, which aligns with the foundational principles of SQF—the prevention of food safety issues rather than merely responding to them after they occur.

While employee training, technology implementation, and consumer feedback are indeed important aspects of a comprehensive food safety system, they do not encapsulate the core principle of risk management as it is outlined in the SQF framework. Employee training enhances individual knowledge and skills, technology can assist in compliance and efficiency, and consumer feedback can provide insights for improvement, but they support the overarching objective of managing risks directly related to food safety hazards in a structured manner.