Determining the capabilities of food businesses to produce safe and legal food in a pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus the role of third party certification in determining how business capability is assessed. Public health controls implemented to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 abruptly halted physical audits and regulatory inspection verification mechanisms. This left many brand owners and manufacturers being faced with a “no-visitor” policy from their suppliers. Concerns were expressed about the capability of food businesses to produce safe and legal food in a pandemic with its consequential disruption to supply chains, staffing, service provisions and the consequences of reduced surveillance and verification on food standards and food safety. As a result, the food industry had to reassess the processes used to ensure the production of safe and authentic food; and to reconsider whether alternate approaches to assuring food safety and legal compliance of food products could be used. This article takes a look at the historical development of the third party audit and the role it plays in Food Safety and Quality Management Systems. It serves as a reminder of the principles that underpin a competent food business and highlights some options for monitoring and verification of a food business in the absence of 3rd party audits. Whilst these measures were introduced as a short term solution, it is likely that some elements will continue