Food Technology

Sterling Crew is a Managing Director of SQS Ltd. He is a Strategic Advisor at Dynamic Risk Indicator and the Shield Safety Group. He is the Independent Scientific Advisor at Campden BRI and sits on its

board. He is also on the audit governance board at Eurofins. He chairs the Institute of Food Science and Technologies Food Safety Group and was its immediate past Vice President. He has 35 years’of experience of working in the field of international food safety, governance, communication and regulation. He started his career in local government before a successful track history in retailing with Marks and Spencer and Tesco. He has also worked in the branded environment for Coca Cola and Disney and two food manufacturers. His experience as a Regulator, Retailer, Brand Owner and Food Manufacturer has given him a unique perspective of the challenges in the global food supply network. He is a regular Public Health Commentator.

Culture is increasingly cited in reports and papers related to food safety incidents and outbreaks are also being identified as a significant emerging risk factor in food fraud. The challenge for food businesses is to inoculate a food safety culture into their operations so that good practice is second nature and embraced from the board- room to the shop floor. Only by understanding and changing food handler behaviour will we be able to embed food safety in an organisations culture and drive improvement. A strong food safety culture will ensure that good practice is not only understood but more importantly being followed. Real food safety is what happens when managers and supervisors are not present and individuals are left to their own devices. This is a real challenge to every link of the international food supply chain. To illustrate the increasing recognition of the importance of food safety culture it has been included in the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 8. There is a new appreciation that understanding food safety cultural drivers is a useful addition to the food safety toolbox of training, audit, and testing and risk management. Appreciation of affective management of behavioural interactions is essential to develop positive attitudes and the necessary behavioural changes to drive food safety.