Food safety is essential for every establishment in Birmingham that handles food. Every year, foodborne illnesses affect millions of customers in the UK. If your establishment is not prioritising food safety, you can potentially have a foodborne illness outbreak that could endanger your customers and harm your reputation. In Birmingham, food safety has gone a long way, fostering a food safety culture and decreasing the risk of customers contracting foodborne illnesses.
Here’s how food safety in Birmingham has evolved.
- New Focus on a Sustainable and Nutritious Food System
Recent trends are influenced by finding sustainable solutions, as the world is facing natural phenomena like climate change. Birmingham’s food industry is focusing on a nutritious and sustainable food system. Many food businesses are developing ways to help minimise the need to harvest materials from natural resources without causing harm to the environment and to maintain food security.
With information on food safety becoming more accessible, consumers are more conscious of their diet and lifestyle choices. Thus, Birmingham’s food industry also focuses on a nutritious food system.
- Started to Embrace Technology in the Food Supply Chain
Another way the Birmingham food industry is evolving is by embracing technology in the food supply chain. Many companies are leveraging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML)to address food supply challenges related to food safety.
- Focus on Food Safety and Hygiene
After the Covid-19 pandemic, people are paying more attention to food safety and hygiene. As a result, food companies are finding the need to train staff in these areas and add practices particular to controlling virus spread.
The food safety and hygiene training will teach about the standard food safety guidelines, teaching participants how to prevent spoilage and control the spread of bacteria during food handling.
In addition, food safety training helps ensure that food handlers know about the proper food storage and handling practices to minimise food waste. It also guarantees good food quality, saving the business time and money.
- Social Influences on Food Safety
In this day and age of technology, information travels incredibly faster. Activities of social personalities reach customers in only a few clicks. As a result, many food businesses in Birmingham are using this avenue to market their business. Consumers often mimic or patronise products used by personalities they consider as influential.
- Allergies and Labelling Awareness
Birmingham’s food industry is becoming more aware of allergies and proper labelling. The Food Standards Agency believe that those with allergies and intolerance should be able to make safe food choices. Thus, they require companies that produce and handle food to inform customers about what’s in their food through labelling.
Under the UK’s food law, food businesses should let the customers know if they are using any of the 14 allergens as ingredients in the food or drink they prepare. Those allergic to ingredients outside the 14 allergens list should carefully check the label or ask staff for information about their food allergen.
