| |JUNE 20258CIOReviewIN MY OPINIONREINVIGORATE FOOD SAFETY: A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO QHSE & EHS COMPLIANCEEnsuring food safety is a fundamental responsibility within the food service industry, but compliance can often feel monotonous. Third-party audits, internal inspections and regulatory health codes occur rapidly, making it easy for food safety protocols to become routine rather than a proactive priority. However, true success in quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) and environmental health and safety (EHS) management requires a culture of continuous improvement and engagement. Having worked in food safety and compliance for over 16 years, I have witnessed exemplary safety programs and those struggling. The workforce is diverse across various food service environments, ranging from newly hired employees to 20-year veterans. While experience is invaluable, it can also lead to complacency--imagine complacency leading to lackadaisical food production that creates gaps where bacteria and toxins can grow exponentially, compromising food quality and customer health. It happens more often than we would like to believe.Reinvigorating Food Safety Practices To elevate QHSE and EHS standards and mitigate risks, organizations must move beyond compliance as a mere obligation and instead cultivate a proactive safety culture. Here's how.By Dr. Zena E. Glover, Director of Quality Assurance and Operations at Compass Group USADr. Zena E. Glover is a distinguished food safety and compliance leader with over 16 years of experience in regulatory oversight, quality assurance and operational excellence. She holds a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, in which she thrives to drive transformative improvements in food safety culture and compliance. Dr. Glover's career spans both the public and private sectors, including her tenure at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she served in a supervisory role overseeing regulatory enforcement and compliance standards. Dr. Glover focuses on revolutionizing compliance training, integrating technology-driven solutions and fostering a safety-first mindset across the industry. Her leadership has led to significant reductions in food waste, improved audit performance and enhanced workforce engagement--all contributing to a safer and more sustainable food service environment.Through this article, Dr. Glover emphasizes the need for a proactive, engaging and continuously improving food safety culture that goes beyond routine compliance to ensure quality, safety and public health.Dr. Zena E. Glover
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