Companies' Opinions and Acceptance of Global Food Safety Initiative Benchmarks after Implementation

Abstract

International attention has been focused on minimizing costs that may unnecessarily raise food prices. One important aspect to consider is the redundant and overlapping costs of food safety audits. The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has devised benchmarked schemes based on existing international food safety standards for use as a unifying standard accepted by many retailers. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the decision made by Walmart Stores (Bentonville, AR) to require their suppliers to become GFSI compliant. An online survey of 174 retail suppliers was conducted to assess food suppliers' opinions of this requirement and the benefits suppliers realized when they transitioned from their previous food safety systems. The most common reason for becoming GFSI compliant was to meet customers' requirements; thus, supplier implementation of the GFSI standards was not entirely voluntary. Other reasons given for compliance were enhancing food safety and remaining competitive. About 54 % of food processing plants using GFSI benchmarked schemes followed the guidelines of Safe Quality Food 2000 and 37 % followed those of the British Retail Consortium. At the supplier level, 58 % followed Safe Quality Food 2000 and 31 % followed the British Retail Consortium. Respondents reported that the certification process took about 10 months. The most common reason for selecting a certain GFSI benchmarked scheme was because it was widely accepted by customers (retailers). Four other common reasons were (i) the standard has a good reputation in the industry, (ii) the standard was recommended by others, (iii) the standard is most often used in the industry, and (iv) the standard was required by one of their customers. Most suppliers agreed that increased safety of their products was required to comply with GFSI benchmarked schemes. They also agreed that the GFSI required a more carefully documented food safety management system, which often required improved company food safety practices and increased employee training. Adoption of a GFSI benchmarked scheme resulted in fewer audits, i.e., one less per year. An educational opportunity exists to acquaint retailers and suppliers worldwide with the benefits of having an internationally recognized certification program such as that recognized by the GFSI.

Voluntary traceability standards and the role of economic incentives

“…Non-monetary market incentives cannot be directly estimated and may be both internal and external. Among the variables which derive from firms' adaptation to stakeholders needs (external) the literature identified the good practices to satisfy major customer requirements towards food safety and quality, and retailers' commercial pressure (Chen et al, 2015;Crandall et al, 2012;Heyder et al, 2012;Resende-Filho and Hurley, 2012;Wilcock et al, 2011;Mai et al, 2010;Manos and Manikas, 2010;Starbird and Amanor-Boadu, 2006;Holleran et al, 1999).…”

Evaluating your obligations for employee training according to the Food Safety Modernization Act

“…Suppliers of food products to retailers who had been certified against one of the benchmarked schemes of GFSI were asked about food safety regulations and preparedness. Most suppliers felt that they were better able to comply with food safety regulations after they completed the GFSI certification process (Crandall et al, 2012).…”

“…Many food processing facilities in the US and around the world are already compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) under which their company's current written employee training policies are audited by a third party against international benchmark standards (Crandall et al, 2012). One of the goals of GFSI certification is to harmonize food safety standards across differing national food safety regulations (GFSI, 2015).…”

Global Food Safety Initiative

“…In 2008 the international retailer, Walmart, required that their food suppliers go beyond current USDA and FDA requirements to begin the process of becoming certified under one of the accepted GFSI benchmarked schemes by July 2009 (Crandall et al, 2012). Since that requirement was put in place, there has been a steady progression of additional retailers requiring their suppliers to become certified to a GFSI standard.…”

“…Respondents to a survey about implementation of GFSI certification were of the opinion that the certification resulted in a better documented food safety management system, and they also believed the safety of their products was higher (Crandall et al, 2012). Moyers (2012) investigated 342 food and/ or ingredient recalls in the United States between May 1, 2011 and April 30, 2012.…”