6 Food Safety Culture Plan: What should it look like?
As been stated throughout these chapters, Food Safety Culture is a way thinking, acting and behaving when no one is looking. It is striving to apply safe food practices in every stage of the food process, including customer service regardless of the situation.
Included here are ways any company can use to convey a Food Safety Culture both inside and outside of the organization. These are reminders to both internal employees and the external public that Food Safety is part of the culture and you are not afraid to display the culture in any company messaging.
A food safety culture plan is not one thing, but many things and can be communicated in many different ways. Your company can use one any one of these suggestions or come up with ones that will best fit your organization.
- Modeled behavior from owners and management
- Employees will always follow by example set by employee groups above them in the organization
- Appropriate messaging
- Using positive and suggestive terminology on employee message boards, social media, company letterhead, etc.
- “Food Safety isn’t expensive, it’s priceless.”– Author unknown
- “It takes leadership to improve food safety.”– Author unknown
- “Food safety is not a gadget but a state of mind.” – Author unknown
- “Food Safety has to be everyone’s responsibility… everyone needs to know that they are empowered to speak up if there’s an issue.”
- From Farm to plate, make food safe – Author Unknown
- You are the key to our Food Safety Culture – Author unknown
- Food Safety includes everyone on the food chain. – Author unknown
- Food Safety is a collaborative effort. Our strong commitment protects our guests health.- Author Unknown
- Each and every member of our team has to create a food safety culture where food safety is paramount. – Author unknown
- Company Mission Statement
- Food Safety Culture should be one of the prominent statements of the mission. The more people see the message, they more they start to live it.
- Chapter in the Employee Manual
- Food Safety Culture and the importance of open lines of communication should be part of any training materials used helps to reinforce the message that upper management support, endorse and follow the same culture.
- Starting a Daily Food Safety Culture message, mantra or ritual
- Come up with a daily or weekly food safety message that is communicated to the entire operation and even post on social media.
- Logo on name tags
- Design a food safety icon specific to your company that signifies the Food Safety Culture.
- Logo or icon on the menu or menu board
- A logo, icon or even a tag line, something that is easy to remember and easily recognizable. This logo or icon can become something “that only employees of … company will easily recognize and relate to.
- Infographics posted throughout the facility, both in public view and employee only areas
- Infographics have become an excellent way to convey messages. They are easy to design and can be stored on the cloud for later use. Canva.com is an excellent infographic site to use.
- Messaging on social media
- Depending on the company, messaging put out on social media is often monitored by may need to be approved before posting. It is worth the investment as social media “meets our employees” where they are most comfortable. In addition, it is a great way to share your Food Safety Culture with your customer base and others that follow those platforms.
- Monitoring employee behaviors
- Informal, daily observation
- Formal, annual review
- Rewarding positive behavior examples
- “Employee of the Quarter” parking spot
- Coupons for free meal
- Different colored uniform
- Picture posted in a public area
- Stickers or badges employees earn
- Re – training Negative Behavior
- Potential consequences should be published and not made up on the spot
- Consequences need to be issued immediately and consistently to all employees
- “The punishment must fit the crime” but also send a message