Food Safety Americas 2021 - a chance to connect and protect through food safety

The COVID–19 pandemic continues to impact every industry and sector worldwide, but perhaps none more than the food industry. Lockdowns and restrictions to try and stop the spread of COVID-19 have led to shutdowns, closures and supply disruptions, from food packaging to processing and retail.

Despite no scientific evidence to suggest that the virus is transmitted by food, consumer habits and attitudes have changed dramatically during 2020. Convenient and affordable, frozen food sales witnessed a resurgence during the pandemic and manufacturers and analysts are confident it’s here to stay.

With lockdowns forcing many people to stay at home, it’s hardly a surprise that the latest food trends include a return to home cooking and baking. There’s also been an increase in demand for organic, plant-based, vegan and vegetarian foods, while interest in food products such as flour, bread, fruits, milk and chicken has also increased significantly. 

An article from Forbes points to a recent study from the International Food Information Council, stating that 1 in 3 Americans are shopping for groceries online and purchasing more “shelf-stable” foods since the pandemic began. The same study revealed that 59% of respondents had not dined at a restaurant in the past month. With more time spent at home, many have had time to get creative in the kitchen, developing new skills an affinity for cooking they didn’t have pre-pandemic. And for those who are working remotely, coffee stops on the way to the office and lunch breaks spent at nearby restaurants are a thing of the past. But it isn’t only restaurants that are struggling.

Retailers are trying to meet the needs of consumers who are spending more time at home while tending to the needs of their families as they attempt to balance good eating habits. According to Forbes, The International Food Information Council’s 2020 Food and Health Survey findings identify the need for the food industry to build trust and help households achieve their wellness goals.

The survey revealed that:

• 54% of all American consumers, and 63% of those 50+, care more about their food and beverage choices in 2020 than they did ten years ago

• 18% of Americans use an app or device to track physical activity, food consumption or overall health; 66% say it led to healthy changes they otherwise wouldn’t have made

• 26% of U.S. consumers snack multiple times a day

• 28% of Americans eat more proteins from plant sources than they did in 2019; 24% eat more plant-based dairy; 17% eat more plant-based meat alternatives

• 74% of Americans try to limit sugar intake in 2020, down from 80% in 2019

The food industry will continue to be challenged

The last nine months have seen a large demand for shelf-stable food products, such as macaroni, flour and rice, as well as for fruits and vegetables with high sources of vitamin C. 30% of American consumers plan to purchase more canned goods as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. However, restrictions caused by the pandemic have limited production and caused delays in the transportation of goods.

There’s been a reduction in demand for “more exotic foods” and this trend is expected to continue. The study of attitudes and eating habits suggests that fewer shopping trips in lockdown have reduced consumption of the most perishable food products, such as fish and seafood. 

This, conceivably, could be true for most countries that aren’t landlocked, but the sales of non-perishable, ready meals also dropped. Once again, this has been attributed to ready meals being considered unhealthy and consumers spending more time cooking from scratch – restricting the growth of various sectors of the global frozen ready meal market around the world. 

Food production has been hugely affected as many plants are complying with social distancing and safety rules, with fewer workers harvesting fruits and vegetables in the primary sector. In busy production lines, it's difficult for employees to socially distance, while noisy machinery obliges shouting as employees try to communicate with each other. This could increase virus-containing droplets lingering in cold temperatures.

Delays in the food supply chain

The transportation of food products is being hampered by delays, a lack of space on transport and increased prices. According to data collected and analyzed by Marine Traffic, barge services have been held up at a number of ports, with major ports adopting a 14-day quarantine period for vessels arriving from, or transiting through, China. 

Such delays in transportation may result in extended storage, which, in turn, could affect the quality and safety of products. There are also concerns about the quality of products imported from countries highly affected by COVID-19. These issues are creating food safety challenges across the industry.

Although a lot of effort and investment has gone into safeguarding workers at manufacturing plants, outbreaks continue across the globe. The shutdown of these plants and the changing consumer behaviors and price increases have altered food supply chains.

Last, but by no means least, with many restaurants forced to close while others continue to operate at less-than-full capacity, consumers have turned to pre-packaged goods. The International Solid Waste Association estimates that the consumption of single-use plastics has increased by 250-300% over the course of the pandemic.  

Food safety: Connect and protect

The food industry has never had to be more flexible – adapting to new ways of working to ensure food production and supply. However, the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19 will require the industry to adapt further and faster still. It’s time to take stock and move forward; an opportunity to connect and protect – the theme for the virtual Food Safety Americas Conference.

Rentokil is proud to sponsor the event once again this year. As the leader in pest control and hygiene solutions, we have one important mission: to protect people and enhance lives. It’s no coincidence that multinational brands in over 80 countries around the world trust us to help advance their food safety standards. We understand the challenges businesses face when assessing and controlling risk throughout complex, global supply chains, especially in these unprecedented times. 

This is why, with over 95 years of expertise, we continuously innovate and deliver solutions that will help food businesses mitigate pest and hygiene risks and ensure food safety in a sustainable manner. It’s because of our dedication to food safety that we’re proud sponsors of this year’s Food Safety America’s Conference. 

Rentokil’s global, data-driven pest insights can help businesses deliver new levels of efficiency and control in managing pest threats by combining traditional pest expertise with pioneering digital technology. At this year’s event, our experts will be available to help you overcome challenges and explain how technology, data and insight can be harnessed sustainably to protect your food business in this new normal and beyond. We look forward to meeting you – virtually – at the event.