Food Safety Culture
Show, don’t tell
by Erasmo Salazar • June 03, 2025 • 3 min read
I conducted a Food Safety Audit on the West Coast in early 2021. The world was still grappling with COVID-19 — limited flight options, closed airport restaurants, and strict protocols — but food production could not stop, and neither could audits.
At that time, food safety culture had become a hot topic in conferences, blogs, and LinkedIn discussions. Many companies, eager to demonstrate their commitment, were putting up banners, including the topic in meetings, and providing employee training. The plant I visited had recently invested significant effort in these activities.
The auditees started the conversation on food safety culture right after the opening meeting. They presented a short PowerPoint showcasing all their initiatives from the past two months. It looked great, but in the back of my mind, I kept thinking: “Show, don’t tell.”
Almost an hour later, I started seeing contradictions.
- I found an internal audit report with six unresolved nonconformities from almost four months ago, with no corrective actions taken.
- Their performance scorecards tracked efficiency, waste reduction, and unplanned production shutdowns — but not a single food safety metric.
- Later that afternoon, I reviewed monitoring records that showed two metal detector failures on two separate packaging lines. No corrective actions, and no documented adjustments to the metal detectors.
This wasn’t Food Safety Culture — it was Food Safety Theater.
What Food Safety Culture Really Means.
True Food Safety Culture isn’t about slogans, posters, or training sessions. It is about demonstrated behaviors, accountability, and decision-making that prioritizes food safety over everything else.
When a second or third-party auditor assesses an organization lacking a strong quality and food safety culture, the audit should go beyond merely identifying nonconformities. The auditor should ensure that the organization understands why these issues matter and how addressing them can drive meaningful performance improvements.
If a company truly prioritizes food safety, this commitment will be evident in its actions at every level of the organization. A strong food safety culture ensures that:
- Internal audit findings are addressed promptly.
- Metrics include food safety indicators, not just efficiency and cost-cutting.
- Critical failures — such as metal detector issues — trigger immediate corrective actions.
- Customer and consumer complaints are thoroughly investigated as soon as possible.
- Data from verification activities is analyzed to drive continuous improvement.
- Top management ensures employees understand their role in food safety performance.
- Employees are trained to recognize and escalate issues when necessary.
Words mean nothing without actions. A company with a strong food safety culture does not need to “talk” about it. The behaviors, records, and everyday decisions will prove it.
Food Safety Culture is not just a requirement; it is a principle. And the best way to demonstrate it? Fewer words. More action. Show don’t tell.