The Year that was…
Welcome to your weekly food safety fix!
In this, our 64th blog (also the last for 2021), we reflect on the year that was… It has been a tragically sad year for many of us, but it has also been a year of tremendous growth and opportunity.
Amid the “COVID-waves”, lockdown levels, new variants, and economic sabotage, we have had to juggle a few local food recalls, floods, droughts and too many other challenges to mention. As if this was not enough, the food industry has also had to deal with the publication of new standards – audits against the revised FSSC v 5.1 commenced this year as well as IFS v 7 and IFS Broker 3.1 audits against newer versions. Hot off the press is that BRCGS Food Issue 9 will be published in August 2022 and audits against the new standard will commence in February 2023 (Let’s not worry about this one just yet).
What we have learned from all these challenges, is that we are more resilient than we think. As humans, we have the ability to “bounce back”. Even though we have our “rock bottom” moments, there is always a turning point. This year we have seen how kind South Africans are – we’ve seen people open their hearts, homes, and wallets. We’ve seen fellow South Africans supporting each other through these trying times and celebrating accomplishments as if they were their own!
This being our last blog for the year, we would like to express our appreciation to every employee, supplier, customer, friend, and colleague. 2021 will be remembered for many years to come – it was a tough year by any standard but, without your support, we cannot begin to imagine what it would have been like.
Thank you; Adel, Irma, Colette, Ed, Guido, Triona, Natica, Siza, Saretha and Leonard! We would fail horribly in our duty if we did not thank the ladies in the office who “run the show”; Celeste, Natacha, Ilse and Angelique – THANK YOU!
Although we will be taking some time off over the next few weeks, our website is never on holiday. We have expanded our online course offerings, so reward yourself or a deserving team member with an online food safety training course.
Now is also the perfect time to finalise your 2022 training plan – click here to view our 2022 training programme. You are welcome to pop us an e-mail with your specific food safety training needs.
Wishing you and your loved ones a happy holiday! Stay safe!
From the Food Bites team.
P.S. Our offices will reopen on 05/01/2022.