FDA launched the New Era of Smarter Food Safety in 2019 to combine the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) with the use of new and emerging technologies.  As discussed here, FDA’s blueprint for the New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative is centered on four core elements: (1) Tech-enabled Traceability, (2) Smarter Tools and Approaches for Prevention and Outbreak Response, (3) New Business Models and Retail Modernization, and (4) Food Safety Culture.

In a January 27, 2022 Constituent Update, FDA announced the second webinar in a series, “Collaborating on Culture in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety,” which began in November 4, 2021 and features experts from the public and private sector discussing the value of fostering, supporting, and strengthening food safety cultures to help ensure the safe production of food, and the role of science-based metrics in assessing their effectiveness.  The quarterly webinar series is sponsored by FDA and the nonprofit, Stop Foodborne Illness.  The second webinar, “Making Leaders Risk Aware and Push to Reduce Risk,” will take place on February 16, 2022 from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. ET and will feature Nancy Wilson, Director of Quality Assurance, Risk Management and Safety at Wawa, and Randall Huffman, Chief Food Safety and Sustainability Officer at Maple Leaf Foods.

FDA recommends the series for both those well-versed on, and those just learning about, food safety culture.  Participants must register for the second webinar and may listen to a recording of the first webinar.  Keller and Heckman will continue to monitor and report on developments related to the New Era of Smarter Food Safety.