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Food Safety Resources

Important Background Information on Common Food Safety Topics

Infographic: FDA's Food Traceability Rule

Documenting a tomato from farm to grocer

Resources, Insight and More To Get You Ready for FSMA

Food Safety Priority Issues

Traceability

The food industry shares the agency's commitment to enhancing traceability, but it must be done right. The entire industry needs more time to ensure each segment of the supply chain can provide the necessary data in the appropriate format, that FDA can retrieve and use the data and that the appropriate technology is available to meet the requirements.

Produce Safety

Ensuring food safety is foundational to incorporating more fruit and vegetables into dietary patterns. Implementing science-based standards to reduce the risk of contamination is essential to the safety of fresh produce. FMI members are committed to sourcing safe produce and working with public health officials and the produce industry to protect public health.

Chemical Safety

States across the country continue taking action to limit or phase out heavy metals and certain ingredients, creating a challenging patchwork of requirements. The food industry is identifying opportunities for additional research to ensure regulatory actions are based on both science and risk and are achievable.

Sanitation and Environmental Controls

Adequate cleaning, sanitizing and implementing appropriate environmental controls are foundational to an effective food safety program, whether in manufacturing or in retail. We are working diligently to provide member companies the tools and resources they need to ensure a safe food supply chain.

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FMI Member Plus Program facilitates exclusive deals and opportunities with leading resources. Get more out of your membership!

Food Safety Training & Certification Programs

SafeMark® is the comprehensive food safety training program for the retail food industry. In the business of food safety, the best protection is prevention, and it begins with the right training program.

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The Safe Quality Food (SQF) program is recognized by retailers and foodservice providers around the world. It is the only certification system recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) offering certificates for primary production to food manufacturing.

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Policy Statements

Our current Board approved policy statement on this topic:

Certified Food Protection Managers and Food Safety Training

Plan to Address Leafy Green Outbreaks and Consumer Advisories

Food Safety Resources On-Demand Webinars

MORE FOOD SAFETY RESOURCES ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Questions?

For questions or more information, please contact FMI's Chief Science Officer & Senior Vice President, Food and Product Safety, Hilary Thesmar.

Contact Hilary

Crisis Hotline

24-Hour Crisis Hotline for FMI Members

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FMI Food Safety Resources & Best Practice Guides

Guide to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Traceability Rule

This high-level summary is designed to assist members in familiarizing themselves with certain key components of FDA’s Final Rule.

FMI Traceability Implementation Guide

This document has been developed to help FMI members in the food retail sector and its supply chain implement the FDA final traceability rule.

Considerations Prior to Sourcing / Developing Food Safety Digital Technology and Tools

This document serves as a foundational guide when sourcing new food safety digital technologies and tools.

Food Safety In America

This factsheet explains how food safety is a top priority for the food industry and maintaining the confidence of customers is essential to the success of any food business.

Food Allergen Poster

This customizable poster can be used to educate food retail attendees about allergens so they can better inform shoppers.

Food Allergen Poster - Spanish

This customizable poster can be used to educate food retail attendees in Spanish about allergens so they can better inform shoppers.

Food Defense Guideline

The following guideline is meant for assisting key personnel to prepare, respond, stabilize, and recover from a tampering or intentional contamination event.

Leafy Greens Action Plan Tech Enabled Traceability

This report outlines four months of leafy green traceability pilots with supply chain partners, offering a detailed response to the request by FDA for improved traceability in the food system.

Comprehensive: Coronavirus and Pandemic Preparedness for the Food Industry

This document helps food retailers, wholesalers and suppliers undertake the necessary contingency planning to prepare for a pandemic.

Cleaning and Sanitation Guide for Food Retail

This guide introduces fundamental categories within food retail facilities that can help retailers improve upon, or build, a comprehensive cleaning and sanitation program.

Hepatitis A Information Guide 2019

The FMI Hepatitis A Information Guide offers a practical, concise guide on Hepatitis A for retailers.

FMI Recommended Food Safety Practices for Leafy Greens

This document aims to help prevent contamination of leafy greens, to increase communication across the entire supply chain, to protect consumers and the safety of products they consume, and to facilitate effective response to food safety incidents.

Retail Allergen Resource Document

The Retail Allergen Resource Document is intended to address food allergens with store brand products, in-store practices and procedures, employee and customer awareness and engagement.

Listeria Action Plan for Retailers

FMI and our members are committed to finding ways to control the growth and if possible, eliminate the presence of Listeria at retail to reduce the risk in the retail environment.

Ground Beef Resource Document

This document reviews the basic regulatory requirements for record keeping of ground meat for retail stores and best practices.

Produce Guidance Document

The Produce Safety Best Practices Guide for Retailers will serve as a tool for both food safety and non-food safety retail employees focusing on building existing food safety programs.

Listeria Action Plan for Retail Delis

Food safety experts from FMI’s Food Protection Committee identified two core items that all retailers should be focusing on to minimize the impact of Listeria at retail.

Seafood HACCP Regulations Summary - Retail Product Warehousing and Transit Controls

Guidance on seafood HACCP regulations for the latest FDA Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance

Guidance for Retailers: Product Recalls

This guidance document on product recalls can be modified and personalized for your company. Recall procedures, regulatory requirements, resources, and sample forms are included for your use.

Norovirus Information Guide

This guidance was created to assist the retail food industry in preparing for and effectively handling the cleaning and disinfection of a potential norovirus incident.

Food Safety

EVENTS

FMI and Technomic conducted a research study to evaluate supermarket prepared foods’ practices and metrics. Now we’re presenting the top findings in our webinar series.

Conference
2027 Midwinter Executive Conference
- Wednesday, January 20 - Saturday, January 23, 2027
- | Chula Vista (San Diego), CA
The annual FMI Midwinter Executive Conference is our signature, invitation-only gathering that attracts more than 1,700 food industry executives spanning all facets of the marketplace. It is a prestigious member-only event offering an opportunity for a diverse group of top industry leaders to converge and gain insights relevant to the success of their businesses, including retailers, wholesalers, independent operators, suppliers, manufacturers and solution providers. Depending on their level of membership, suppliers qualify for at least two, and up to an unlimited number of invitations.
Conference
2027 SQF Conference
- Monday, March 8 (12am) - Thursday, March 11, 2027 (12pm US/Eastern)
- | Tucson, AZ
The Safe Quality Food Institute’s SQF Unites Conference gathers 600+ food safety and quality professionals from around the world to discuss and learn about the latest trends in food safety certification and the SQFI program. Attendees include retailers, producers, food processors, educators, regulators, training center and certification body personnel. The SQFI is a division of FMI.
Conference
2028 Midwinter Executive Conference
- Tuesday, February 1 - Friday, February 4, 2028
- | Orlando, FL
The annual FMI Midwinter Executive Conference is our signature, invitation-only gathering that attracts more than 1,700 food industry executives spanning all facets of the marketplace. It is a prestigious member-only event offering an opportunity for a diverse group of top industry leaders to converge and gain insights relevant to the success of their businesses, including retailers, wholesalers, independent operators, suppliers, manufacturers and solution providers. Depending on their level of membership, suppliers qualify for at least two, and up to an unlimited number of invitations.
Conference
2029 Midwinter Executive Conference
- Tuesday, January 23 - Friday, January 26, 2029
- | Orlando, FL
The annual FMI Midwinter Executive Conference is our signature, invitation-only gathering that attracts more than 1,700 food industry executives spanning all facets of the marketplace. It is a prestigious member-only event offering an opportunity for a diverse group of top industry leaders to converge and gain insights relevant to the success of their businesses, including retailers, wholesalers, independent operators, suppliers, manufacturers and solution providers. Depending on their level of membership, suppliers qualify for at least two, and up to an unlimited number of invitations.
Conference
2030 Midwinter Executive Conference
- Wednesday, January 23 - Saturday, January 26, 2030
- | Chula Vista (San Diego), CA
The annual FMI Midwinter Executive Conference is our signature, invitation-only gathering that attracts more than 1,700 food industry executives spanning all facets of the marketplace. It is a prestigious member-only event offering an opportunity for a diverse group of top industry leaders to converge and gain insights relevant to the success of their businesses, including retailers, wholesalers, independent operators, suppliers, manufacturers and solution providers. Depending on their level of membership, suppliers qualify for at least two, and up to an unlimited number of invitations.

Leadership

FMI's Food Protection Committee identifies and prioritizes food safety issues of public health significance and enhances the industry's understanding of these issues. The Committee also recommends food safety policies, programs and implementation plans for Board approval.

Committee Portal Food Protection Committee

Join the committee

The FMI Board Food Safe Committee undertakes a strategic, board-based view of FMI members' needs on foods safety.

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