Ulster University Business School, in collaboration with Safefood and the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) Northern Ireland Branch, recently hosted a high-impact event exploring food safety culture and legislative requirements across the island of Ireland.
Held at Ulster University’s Academy Restaurant, the event welcomed 100 attendees, including food industry professionals, government authorities, educators, and students from both Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast.
The Importance of Food Safety Culture
In March 2021, the European Commission updated its food hygiene regulations (Regulation (EU) 2021/382), mandating all food businesses to establish and evidence a strong food safety culture (FSC). While ensuring compliance is crucial, a strong FSC also enhances business performance and consumer confidence.
This event provided a comprehensive overview of FSC from multiple perspectives—regulators, auditors, trainers, and business leaders—supported by independent Safefood-funded research conducted by Ulster University.
Expert Insights and Industry Perspectives
Dr Seán McCallion presented findings from the latest Ulster University Safefood-funded research on the state of food safety culture in businesses across Ireland.
Lead investigators Dr Lynsey Hollywood of the Food and Drink Business Research Centre (Ulster University Business School) and Dr Ruth Price of the Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (Faculty of Life and Health Sciences) highlighted key research findings, noting a general lack of awareness of FSC and the need to bridge this knowledge gap.
Dr Lynsey Hollywood and Dr Ruth Price said:
“Given these results, we felt it was important to host an industry event to reduce fear of the new requirements and showcase best practices already in place.”
Attendees heard directly from key regulatory figures, including:
- Kevin Connolly (Senior Executive Officer, Food Standards Agency in NI)
- Kristin Anderson (Research Ireland Public Service Fellow, Food Safety Authority of Ireland)
- Cristina Fernandez Bugallo (FSAI)
Professor Una McMahon-Beattie (Head of Accreditation, Ulster University) led a discussion with Emma Duffy (Environmental Health Officer, Belfast City Council) and Steven Orr (Director, Bodega Bagels), who shared practical insights on the challenges and opportunities of fostering a robust food safety culture.
Industry Collaboration and Future Steps
A panel discussion, chaired by Dr Linda Gordon (Safefood), featured experts from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies. The event concluded with Dr Kaye Burgess (Teagasc) commending the collaborative nature of the initiative. Attendees were pleased to learn that the FSA in NI and FSAI are developing an information pack to aid businesses in understanding, implementing and assessing FSC requirements.
Dr Maria Mulhern, Chair of IFST NI, highlighting the importance of collaboration said:
“Ensuring food safety is not just a legal obligation but a deeply embedded culture that benefits consumers and businesses alike.”
Safefood’s Dr Linda Gordon reinforced the value of a strong FSC. She said:
“At Safefood, we support small businesses with training, including a free e-learning programme for SMEs across the food production, retail, and catering sectors.”