Boar's Head Brand's Striving Commitment to Food Safety
In a bold move to reaffirm its dedication to food safety, Boar's Head Brand held a company-wide initiative known as the "Boar's Head Food Safety Promise Day" on February 13, 2025. This event was designed to pause operations at all of its facilities, allowing employees to focus on new enhanced food safety measures and sanitation practices that are now a hallmark of the brand.
Frank Yiannas, who serves as Chief Food Safety Advisor to Boar's Head and is a former Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the FDA, articulated the brand's philosophy on food safety. He stated that ensuring safety throughout the food production process—from sourcing and production to delivery—is of utmost importance. This initiative signifies Boar's Head's renewed promise to consumers, revamping its strategies in light of previous challenges, such as last year's recall, and exhibiting the brand's proactive approach to maintaining high standards.
Significant Enhancements in Food Safety Processes
Over recent months, Boar's Head has made substantial progress regarding food safety, rolling out several initiatives across its operations. Some key enhancements include:
- - Transitioning to USDA's Alternative 2 Listeria Control Requirements: The company has built additional layers of protection through the adoption of advanced processing techniques, which include high-pressure and water pasteurization alongside natural ingredients specifically aimed at hindering the growth of food-borne pathogens.
- - Elevated Environmental Monitoring Techniques: The rollout of robust monitoring protocols has increased Listeria sampling across all facilities. By embracing cutting-edge testing technologies, Boar's Head allows for swift detection and response to sanitary concerns, thus maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and safety.
- - Reinforced Sanitation Protocols: Each facility has heightened its sanitation efforts by undergoing extensive third-party training. More stringent daily cleaning measures are now in place, ensuring all manufacturing equipment and environments meet rigorous sanitation standards through scheduled audits.
- - Retraining Team Members: Following the previous challenges, employees were retrained on comprehensive food safety procedures to ensure they are equipped to manage their responsibilities with precision and care.
- - Pioneering Supply Chain Innovations: Boar's Head is experimenting with battery-free smart tags, which relay crucial compliance and safety data throughout the supply chain, thereby enhancing traceability.
- - Food Safety Advisory Council: Comprising distinguished food safety experts, this council is led by Yiannas and will provide ongoing expertise to bolster the brand’s food safety practices.
Fostering a Culture of Food Safety
Beyond implementing technical enhancements, Boar's Head strives to promote a culture centered around safety and respect among its team members. This approach is crucial in sustaining the ideals and principles that have underpinned the brand for over 120 years. Boar's Head stresses that food safety is not just an operation; it is a culture that reflects the commitment to quality and consumer trust.
In the backdrop of these significant initiatives, it's worth noting that the CDC declared last year's outbreak over. Furthermore, all products from Boar's Head remain unaffected by any recalls, allowing customers to trust and enjoy the brand's offerings confidently.
With the USDA routinely inspecting all Boar's Head meat and poultry plants, recent reviews reaffirm the continuous compliance with established safety standards. The comprehensive measures adopted by Boar's Head not only reflect its dedication to excellence but also aim to set a new industry standard in food safety.
For more insights regarding Boar's Head's commitment to food safety, visit
boarshead.com/FoodSafety.
About Boar's Head
Founded in 1905, Boar's Head Brand has built a legacy of quality by refusing to compromise on its product integrity. Starting with a few deli items, the brand has since expanded its offerings to over 500 products, ensuring that every item meets the highest standards of quality and care from its delicatessen meats to a wide variety of condiments and specialties.