Protect what matters – February 26

Food recalls can occur as a result of identified contamination, undeclared allergens or mislabelling, and there can be anything from tens to hundreds each year. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) published 150 official Product Recall Information Notices (PRINs) in the period of January to June 2025, which was an increase on the 2023/24 period, although lower than in 2022 and the preceding four years.

No food processing or packaging plant wants to be at the centre of recalls like some of the high-profile ones we have seen over the last few months, relating to potentially contaminated products. 

As PPE is a major element in these operations, a focus on ensuring reduction of contamination risk from PPE is important. Operators should be prioritising ensuring their providers of PPE products have appropriately stored, handled, transported and received these products, as part of their due diligence processes.

A key way to do this is to work with providers that hold specifically recognised accreditations in this area. The Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards (BRCGS) certification programme is considered the gold standard in setting out standards for food safety and operational criteria. It is a long-established scheme that helps firms to implement best practices around hygiene, manufacturing processes and risk management like Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). 

It introduced the Storage & Distribution for Warehouse and Supply Chain as an additional elective accreditation in 2006. While this part of the scheme is elective, it is becoming more recognised, and expected, within the food industry and its associated partners. 

Those looking to achieve this accreditation must be subject to an audit covering a broad range of site contamination risk controls and systems. It’s a rigorous process to ensure full product traceability across the whole supply chain. RS Safety Solutions has held this accreditation for 12 years and, as part of the audit, must also prove monitoring of product suppliers and manufacturers. 

Assessment also extends to housekeeping, cleaning and pest control – as well as ensuring product stock rotation programmes to avoid risk of out-of-date products – and proper management, tracking and resolution of customer complaints. RS’s own vehicle fleet was also audited to ensure it meets the right criteria for transporting PPE products to food processing businesses. An AA scheme rating, which RS Safety Solutions holds, proves maximum contamination risk management of the distribution centre’s stored PPE.

As reporting of contamination risks in food products becomes increasingly prevalent, heightening consumer awareness, there is added pressure on processing businesses to ensure consumer safety. The complexity in supply chains is ever-growing, adding further risk to the process. Food production and packaging firms must opt for accredited standards as an added layer of security to protect themselves, their customers and consumers.

Neil Griffiths is site director at RS Safety Solutions. For more information, visit www.rs-safety.com