Google it! The answers to just about everything are at all our fingertips all the time, however there is also a great deal of misleading information out there on the wire. A perfect example is the amount of information generated recently on SARSCoV-2/COVID-19. Disclaimer alert; the global food supply continues to be strong and there continues to be no evidence that food or food packaging is associated with the spread of this SARSCoV-2/COVID-19 virus.

So how can you ensure you are finding the best science/fact-based information to support you, your business and most importantly your customers? Unfortunately, a one stop shop for answers to all things food safety doesn’t exist due to the complexity of our regulatory framework and the global food supply system. But you can access a large majority of information that today’s food safety professionals depend on, and we thought it might be useful to breakdown a list of some of our most trusted resources:

Regulatory

• FDA - Smarter Food Safety: New Era central site that is regularly updated. The site houses FDA leadership videos, documents, and useful links to other affiliated regulatory resources such as FSMA, and the FDA Model Food Code.
• FDA – Food Code: The FDA Model Food Code is a federal level set of rules and regulations for the retail and food service industry. Local, state, and tribal regulatory offices use these requirements (in part or in full) to develop or update their own local policies. Revisions and updates to the code are published every four years, however FDA may publish intermittent supplements between 4 year releases in order to provide modifications or clarifications.
• USDA – Food and Nutrition: USDA is responsible for the rules and regulations in food manufacturing and food distribution. USDA is also responsible for several national food nutrition programs like SNAP and the National School Lunch Program.
• CDC – Food Safety: The CDC provides consumer facing Food Safety information intended for non-commercial applications. This is a great resource for general information around topics like preventing food poisoning at home, food safety during and after natural disasters and product recalls.
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): CFIA is the Canadian national standards and regulatory agency. This is where food industry professionals and the general public can learn more about the Safe Food for Canadians Act, regulations for food businesses and recalls.

Associations:

• Conference for Food Protection (CFP): CFP is a non-profit organization that brings together regulatory, industry, academia and consumers to develop and/or modify food safety guidance. These recommendations are then incorporated into food safety laws at all levels of US government.

• CFP has a large number of free Guidance documents available for use on subjects like: Emergency Action Plans, Raw Beef Grinding logs, Mobile Food Establishments and many more...

• IAFP: The largest global association with the focus of protecting the worlds global food supply. The association focuses on connecting food safety professionals to share, develop and evaluate science-based information.

• This is primarily a member based organization but there are some great free resources available for use like globally recognized Food Safety and Allergen Safety Icons.

• AFDO  - Directory of State and Local Regulatory Officials: The Association of Food and Drug Officials is a regulatory organization that connects food and medical-products safety stakeholders. The association supports that development of rules, laws, regulations and best practices that protect public health.

• The AFDO State and Local directory is an easy way to identify the responsible regulatory offices in your area to get information on specific requirements.

• NRA (National Restaurant Association): The largest foodservice and restaurant trade association that provides advocacy and representation through lobbying efforts at the national and state level and develop educational programs (ServSafe).

• There are also State level affiliate NRA groups check out your local affiliate here.

• Food Safety & Quality Assurance Expert Exchange: This is a member only group that provides access to top level industry food safety professionals for insights and feedback on problems.

General Interest:

• Food Safety News (FSN): FSN is a dedicated daily food safety news resource that covers topics ranging from policy and politics to foodborne illness outbreaks to sustainability, science and research.
• Food Safety Talk Podcast
• Risky or Not?: A Podcast designated to answering audience submitted food safety questions which are answered by various industry experts.
• Food Safety Matters is a podcast for food safety professionals hosted by the Food Safety Magazine editorial team – the leading media brand in food safety for over 20 years.  Each episode will feature a conversation with a food safety professional sharing their experiences and insights of the important job of safeguarding the world’s food supply.