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Podcasts

Analyzing the Food Safety Challenges, Opportunities Facing Industry in the New Year

Jan. 9, 2025

Looking into the uptick in recalls in 2024; what FSIS and the FDA had turned their focus toward by the end of the year; federal/state inspections trends; and the added emphasis on foreign material prevention in the product stream.

Andy Hanacek

As we tear down our 2024 calendars and replace them with 2025 versions, it’s a good time to look back on the year in food safety challenges, accomplishments and trends that might push into the new year.

Andrew Lorenz, who consults processors on food safety, quality and regulatory issues as CEO and founder of We R Food Safety!, offers his insights into the uptick in recalls in the past year and what FSIS and the FDA had turned their focus toward by the end of the year. Additionally, he gives an update on what to expect when it comes to federal versus state inspections and the added emphasis on preventing foreign material contamination in the product stream.

Editor's Note: To view the "Robust Listeria monocytogenes Control Program" documentation that Lorenz mentions in the episode, click here; it is free of charge to anyone.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.