Whether you import produce, manufacture soda pop or run an Italian bistro, understanding and complying with food and beverage industry standards is imperative to the success of your business. Not understanding or meeting important industry standards can lead to hefty fines, lawsuits and even outbreaks of illness.

To ensure that your company complies with important standards, you will need to secure solid food and beverage industry standards education and training for you and your employees. As you look for training resources, make sure to do the following:

1. Learn about the industry standard certification requirements for different food businesses in your state.

2. Understand the standards that are specific to the food services industry.

3. Determine the food and beverage standards that apply to international business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get certified through state and federal food and beverage standards programs

Different states have different standards for the training and certification of people that handle food. Learn the rules in your state to ensure that you and your employees receive the proper training. It is also important to learn the safety standards put forth by the federal government for both the retail and manufacturing sectors of the food industry.

I recommend: Establish your state's food handling training requirements at ServSafe before completing the company's restaurant industry standards certification programs. ServSafe provides classes in both food and alcohol handling that meet industry-set food sanitation standards. Get beverage and food industry standards certification from the FDA at the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) online university. The curricula covers the retail, manufacturing, dairy and shellfish sectors of the food industry.

Complete training to meet food and beverage industry service standards

There are many courses that cover standards that are specific to the food services industry and focus mainly on sanitation and safe food handling practices. If you run a restaurant, make sure to have your employees complete all necessary training to meet these standards.

I recommend: Take the "NSF Healthguard Professional Food Manager" one-day training course offered by NSF International. The course is designed to help food service managers meet industry standards for restaurants. Follow up the NSF course with the certified examination offered by the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals. The program employs standards set by the Conference for Food Protection and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute.

Find international food and beverage industry standards training and classes online

If any part of your food or beverage operations involves international business it is important for you to understand the standards set by global industry bodies. Many classes are available online making them both time and cost effective.

I recommend: Read "Food Quality and Safety Systems - A Training Manual on Food Hygiene and the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System" on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States website. Register for the "Codex Alimentarius" class at the International Food Laws and Regulation website which covers the implementation of global food standards established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and is part of the International Food Law Certificate Program.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join your local industry trade association to help you stay on top of the changes to food and beverage standards that will affect your business.

There's no doubting just how essential it is for business owners to learn and practice safe food and beverage industry standards. Americans expect their government to enact legislation aimed at ensuring the public food supply is safe. They also expect industry leaders associated with any aspect of food production and handling to follow those guidelines strictly.

In typical American fashion, the federal and state government agencies charged with advocating these standards provide ready public access to them. The websites these agencies maintain provide information and further contacts related to standards for meats, poultry, eggs, dairy and other agricultural products. It's not an overstatement to say that contacting any one of these agencies will get you more information on food and beverage industry standards than you ever thought existed. You can approach this expansive topic by keeping certain key facts in mind:

1. Contact federal agencies first to discover the original sources for most standards in the food industry.

2. Move on to state agencies that provide direct assistance in complying with food sanitation standards.

3. Promote sound food and beverage industry service standards in your own establishment by training your employees.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know the federal programs promoting food and beverage industry service standards

Many industry standards are at the federal level. Federal agencies maintain large staffs devoted to assisting the public and food industry leaders in their efforts to ensure public safety through best practices in the food standards.

I recommend: FoodSafety.gov provides information on standards in the food industry. Contact them for news alerts and national food safety programs. A government agency, The Food Safety and Inspection Service makes sure that the meats, poultry and eggs sold in America conform to quality standards for production and labeling. Its website links provides state links for food and beverage safety standards. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition provides official government publications related to dairy sanitation standards, restaurant industry standards and food and beverage industry service standards.

Learn which state agencies oversee food, beverage industry standards

State health agencies will supply you with most of the food industry standards you'll need to follow in your own establishment.

I recommend: The Association of State and Territorial Health Office represents state health agencies devoted to creating and enforcing standards for the safe handling of food and beverages. Contact the Food and Drug Administration for a list of the state and local governmental agencies that oversee food and beverage industry standards.

Train your employees in industry standards for restaurants

Many states require certain restaurants and foodservice establishments to offer training programs on food and beverage standards to their employees.

I recommend: The National Coalition for Food-Safe Schools tries to advance food safety in school cafeterias and offers a wealth of advice for eliminating unsanitary food practices in any professional kitchen. The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation provides online activities for restaurant employees to practice food and beverage sanitation techniques.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many states offer certifications to restaurant owners whose businesses meet certain food and beverage standards criteria. Getting one of these certifications that you can proudly display in your restaurant tells your customers you truly care about food safety.

Owners of food and beverage companies today are keenly aware of government and industry standards regulating the cultivation, manufacture, processing and packaging of their products. With the focus squarely on ensuring public safety, food and beverage companies have no choice but to learn about and comply with these standards. Although you'll probably depend on consultants for regulatory advice, knowing key terms related to food and beverage industry standards can help you stay on top of critical developments in this field.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

HACCP

The HACCP, also known as the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Program, refers to the guidelines followed by the federal government to ensure that foods obtained through international trade are safe for consumption.

I recommend: Go straight to the source of the guidelines at the FAO. Get details on the background of the HACCP, specific guidelines and monitoring systems, as well as corrective action the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations takes when foods do not meet these standards.

Food-safe schools action

With a program like food-safe schools action, school cafeterias are joining the effort to follow food and beverage industry standards. This program sets guidelines for school cafeteria personnel to follow when they serve and prepare foods.

I recommend: At FoodSafeSchools.org, you'll get to know the actual guidelines used to train school cafeteria personnel to avoid unsanitary food preparation and cross-contamination.

Vessel-sanitation program

The vessel-sanitation program, or 'VSP' as it is sometimes called, was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its purpose is to stop the spread of diseases that commonly affect passengers on cruise ships.

I recommend: Get the specifics on this food and beverage industry standards program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Find out about the mission of this program, how inspections are performed, which ships come under the jurisdiction of the CDC and what actions are taken when a ship does not pass sanitation inspections.

LIMS

LIMS stands for the Laboratory Information Management System, a protocol for food and beverage industry organizations allowing them to improve quality and safety while also tracking foods as they move through the supply chain.

I recommend: Thermo Scientific offers a comprehensive discussion of LIMS. Find out how this system is providing food and beverage companies with safe, cost-effective and affordable solutions to ensuring they comply with industry standards, some of which are regulated by the federal government.

Data synchronization

Data synchronization is a method used by the alcoholic beverages industry to maintain accurate records regarding the transfer of products through the supply chain.

I recommend: The Alcohol Beverage Industry Electronic Commerce Council's data synchronization initiative shows how beverage suppliers are using data base networks to meet industry standards governing the sale of their products. In particular, you'll find out how this program saves money and improves customer service.

Microbial hazard

A microbial hazard is present when foods and equipment are not adequately sanitized, allowing the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.

I recommend: FoodSafety.gov offers a detailed explanation of the methods suggested by food and beverage industry standards groups that packing facilities can use to prevent microbial hazard.