Food Safety and ISO 22000 Requirements for any Organization in the Food Industry.

ISO 22000 is an international private standard that outlines in detail what should food safety management systems(FSMS) looks like. Originally established in 2005, it was updated in 2018 to reflect new challenges in food safety.

Food Safety is of utmost importance for everyone but certain groups like young children or older adults or people with a compromised immune system like people with diabetes, HIV, cancer weakens a person's immune system and are more vulnerable, if they contract a food borne illness, their symptoms can be worse. Recovery becomes difficult and illness can be fatal.

the International organization of Standard developed the ISO 22000 standard founded in 1947, which is a nongovernmental organization with 161 national standard bodies.

ISO 22000 2005 was created in response to series of crises in the food chain like mad cow disease and wine adulteration. the food industry needed to prove that it has safe law-abiding systems in place. A solid standard would improve communication on an international scale.

An update was proposed in 2014.in 2018, the new ISO 22000 was finally published. The updates are necessary to address the newest trends and food safety requirements.

ISO 22000 2018 applies to any organization within the food industry chain, when an organization meets the requirements, a third-party auditor comes in and conducts an inspection. If they are satisfied then they are approved for certification. Every three years the certification needs to be renewed. organization can lose their certification if they have not kept up with the requirements. There are many benefits to getting certified. The most obvious is that a good FSMS makes it easier to prevent and respond to problems and ensures food products are better and safer. Getting certified will build customers' and stakeholders' confidence. Because ISO is internationally recognized, getting certified opens new doors on a global scale.

What's in the ISO 22000:2018 Standard?

Features that the system must have been

1. Interactive Communication: it ensures all food safety systems hazards are identified. This includes communication between suppliers, and with customers.
2. System management: To be effective, food safety systems ISO 22000 must be updated as needed. It helps an organization to provide the best products and services that meet regulatory requirements.
3. Prerequisite Programs: The WHO Defines prerequisite programs as practices and conditions needed before and during the implementation of HACCP, they are set up before an organization performs hazard analysis. To meet ISO 22000:2018 standard an organization must document its pros.
4. HACCP Principles: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points is a preventive method focusing on biological, radiological, etc.HACCP Principles are included in Codex Alimentarius. The Codex Alimentarius Commission is a joint venture between the WHO and the food and agriculture organization of the UN.

The 2018 version is more clearly based on HACCP Principles. Any organization that follows the latest ISO 22000 is better aligned with codex and the auditing process is also easier with the 2018 version.