Spring Forward: What’s Changed and What Matters

Spring is a natural time to take a fresh look at the systems supporting your operation. As seasons change, so can the demands on your food safety programs. Warmer temperatures, shifting production or purchasing patterns, and evolving risks all make this an important time to review, reinforce, and strengthen your approach.

This spring, we are already seeing impacts from updates like SQF Edition 10 which includes changes requiring attention, evaluation, and, in some cases, action. Not every change will significantly impact your system, but some will. The challenge is understanding which changes matter and where to focus your efforts. We can help with those decisions. 

Spring is a great opportunity to move forward with renewed purpose. By focusing on what matters most and making practical improvements, you can position your food safety system to perform with confidence in the months ahead.

~ HACCP Consulting Group

FSIS and SQF Agree:

Routine Meetings Matter! 

Ugh. Another meeting? If that's how you feel about meetings, something may be wrong. If meetings are efficient and well planned, they should be productive and helpful rather than dreaded. One way to ensure better meetings is to have a clear agenda. 

A recent FSIS Directive update clarifies the agenda for weekly inspector meetings with local food safety management. Some of the required topics of discussion for these meetings coincide with the monthly meeting requirements indicated in Edition 10 of the SQF Code. This tells us that certain topics should be communicated routinely to ensure no unpleasant surprises or trends drifting in the wrong direction. This isn't 'just' a regulatory or code 'thing', it's a tool for commercial and food safety success. 

For an effective meeting, it is important to consider each item on an agenda and spend time only on those items that either bear significant risk or significant opportunities. Need some inspiration as to what to talk about or what should be on a food safety team meeting agenda? Check out the FSIS Directive and SQF Code: HERE and HERE.

And if these topics cause you angst - contact us at HCG. We can clarify requirements and help you build a strong food safety system. 

Latest Industry News

FSIS “After Action Review Report” On A Lm Outbreak

Recently, the USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published a “After Action Review Report” (see attached) on an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) with a Ready-to-Eat product that occurred in 2024 that remained unresolved. While initially the source of the Lm was unknown, using whole genome sequencing (WGS) from a routine FSIS product sample in 2025, there was a match to the human Lm isolate from the previously outbreak. The sequence of events that followed allowed FSIS to identify the source of the initial outbreak and take further regulatory action.

Conducting a Food Safety Assessment at the identified establishment, FSIS documented inadequate sanitation practices, lack of separation between raw and RTE operations, and physical plant modifications (i.e., construction).

This After Action Report illustrates the important use of WGS and how FSIS can tract down the source of a Lm outbreak.   

Don’t let this be you.  Please contact HCG to provide an assessment of your operations and control programs to deal with Lm. 

2026 Training: Courses & Webinars

New Webinar:

SQF Edition 10 Readiness

SQF Edition 10 Readiness: What Changed, What Matters, and What’s Next

2-Hour Webinar | $225

SQF Edition 10 introduces a number of updates, but not all changes require the same level of attention. Understanding which updates truly impact your food safety system, and what actions are needed, is critical to preparing effectively.

This 2-hour live webinar provides a focused, practical review of SQF Edition 10, with an emphasis on the changes that matter most. We will walk through the Code updates, highlighting key areas that may affect your system and distinguishing them from changes that are primarily editorial.

Participants will gain clarity on how these updates apply to their current programs and how to prioritize next steps moving forward. The session is designed to help you efficiently evaluate your system and determine where adjustments may be needed to align with Edition 10 expectations.



If you are looking for a clear, efficient way to understand SQF Edition 10 and prepare your system with confidence, this webinar is designed for you.

Virtual courses are conducted through Zoom - no Zoom account is required to join. Course materials are provided in both hard copy and digital formats. Companies registering three or more participants for the same session receive a 10 percent discount.

Have a small group that needs training? 

We also offer in-person courses tailored to your team.

Email us at info@haccpcg.com to discuss your needs.

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