October 12, 2011
A superior supply chain strategy is needed in order for businesses in the foodservice industry to provide customer service that goes above and beyond the call of duty. For this reason, Avendra continues to play a vital role in the implementation of laws and policies meant to help trace food-borne illnesses back to their origin. With their strict and thorough auditing programs, as well as their support of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Avendra is a strong advocate for improved food traceability.
The need for this kind of stewardship was most recently illustrated when the FDA announced another recall of cantaloupes in connection to the Listeria outbreak that has been blamed for at least 18 deaths and 100 illnesses since August 2011. Avendra believes that with the right programs in place, outbreaks like this could easily be contained.
To put things into further perspective, roughly one in six people in the United States gets sick from eating contaminated food each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While technological advancements in the food industry have cut down on contamination outbreaks, some viruses still run rampant and cause thousands of hospitalizations annually. The CDC's recommendations for cutting down on these instances falls directly in line with the initiatives outlined in the FSMA - streamlining the tracking of food from farm to table - through quicker and more efficient laboratory testing, alerting consumers and investigating outbreaks as quickly as possible and putting new policies into place for future prevention.
Measures to improve traceability within the U.S. food supply chain are of high priority within FSMA, which has been signed into law but lacks the proper funding for full implementation. Throughout the process of drafting, promoting and passing the law, Avendra has been a wide and public supporter of the policy.
"It is our mission to see that our customers get their products in the condition they expect," said Ed Thompson, Vice President of Quality Assurance for Avendra. "We have been actively working with the produce industry to increase the food safety standards for several years."
Avendra's focus on supply chain assurance assists in providing clients with better procurement solutions. Avendra's Contracting and Quality Assurance teams audit and assess suppliers in order to ensure they meet the strictest safety standards. Avendra takes the extra step to provide superior procurement solutions by investigating manufacturer facilities and distribution trucks to verify that suppliers are doing everything in their power to reduce contamination. In addition, Avendra communicates food recall notifications to its customers as soon as relevant information becomes available.
In an industry where safety, customer satisfaction and brand integrity are critical, Avendra keeps a careful watch over supplier quality and performance.