The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) said it is recognizing 28 dairy companies for their outstanding achievements in worker safety in 2020 with an IDFA Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Award.

In 2017, there were more than 400 food recalls in the United States. Undeclared allergens and/or improper labeling led the charge as the primary source. Pathogenic organisms from Listeria Monocytogenes and Salmonella and foreign materials came in second and third, respectively.

Today, consumers in the United States can experience a huge variety of affordable, fresh and innovative dairy foods, not only from across the country, but also from around the globe, just by visiting the local grocery store — an experience that was considered impossible only a few decades ago. Advances in food science, processing, packaging and a tremendous expansion of the cold chain distribution system are a few of the ways by which this progress has been achieved.

There is no school for dairy plant production workers. It is up to you to teach food safety and plant safety. Then you have to observe that the teaching has been understood.

Arm your staff with information. Teach them what listeria is, where to look for it and how to eliminate it in your dairy plant.