What is an effective way to handle food safety during supplier inspections?

Establishing criteria that suppliers must meet before approval is crucial for maintaining food safety standards. By implementing a set of clear and measurable criteria, organizations can ensure that suppliers adhere to specific safety regulations, quality standards, and operational practices. This proactive approach helps in identifying potential risks associated with a supplier's processes or products, thereby preventing any food safety violations before they occur.

Inspections based solely on verbal assurances from suppliers can lead to complacency and a lack of verification, putting food safety at risk. Similarly, only checking suppliers during the busy season may result in inadequate assessments, as suppliers might not consistently meet the required safety standards year-round. Rotating suppliers without conducting any inspections undermines the purpose of ensuring food safety, as it does not allow for evaluations of new suppliers' compliance with industry standards.