Food businesses now required to do annual mock trials

From 1 July 2023, all businesses with a plan or programme under the Food Act, Wine Act, or Animal Products Act, as well as food importers and exporters, will need to carry out a simulated recall at least every 12 months.

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) acting deputy director general Jenny Bishop says the simulated recalls are a necessary measure to prevent and/or limit harm to consumers.

“Consumer safety is always the priority when there is a recall,” Bishop says. “Businesses must be able to act quickly and accurately to identify and remove at-risk product from shelves.”

She says that having effective systems in place to do those recalls protects people from contaminated food.

“Just like fire or earthquake drills, a simulated recall will help businesses ensure their procedures work, staff know what to do, and any gaps are identified before a real emergency arises.

“All food businesses have a role in ensuring the safety of food in New Zealand; practicing for a food recall ensures they will know how to play their part when problems are identified.”

“Food businesses strive to make sure the food they produce is safe.  However, from time to time, things can go wrong, and food businesses must be ready to quickly recall unsafe food,” says Bishop.

She says businesses can receive guidance from NZFS to help fix any issues found in the test run to improve speed and effectiveness in case of a real recall.

NZFS has developed guidance and resources and has been engaging with the industry about the new requirement over the past couple of years.

NZFS has a toolbox to create a scenario and procedures for a simulated food recall on its website and will continue to work with verifiers, businesses, and other groups to educate the industry about the new requirements and best practice for food recalls.

“We recommend that everyone subscribes to New Zealand Food Safety’s food recall alerts on our website so that anyone who has already bought recalled food is notified immediately,” Bishop says.

“It is very important that all consumers respond to recall information to keep themselves and their whanau safe.”