Building trust in New Zealand’s food this World Health Day

Building trust in New Zealand’s food this World Health Day

PwC is marking World Health Day today by announcing the establishment of its global food supply and integrity services business which is being developed and led from New Zealand to help food companies and governments tackle the world’s food security, safety and quality concerns.

Improving food safety is the theme of this year’s campaign by the World Health Organisation, which PwC says is a shared responsibility that needs confronting by industry and government to give people greater trust in their food. Macro-economic forces are threatening global food supply.

Craig Armitage, PwC’s Global Leader, Food Supply and Integrity Services, says: “Enhancing trust in food is a growing concern in a climate where public confidence has been rocked by food safety failures. Governments and food companies both here in New Zealand and globally are being challenged like never before as basic fundamentals of trade and food supply are transformed. It’s a growing problem of risk we’re seeing across industries, but unfortunately food is an area where supply chain failures can be fatal.”

According to PwC’s report released today, Food trust: From compliance to competitive advantage, governments are growing their regulatory focus and increasing oversight and sanctions to try and improve food safety performance and protect their people.

“Trust in food is a public health concern, a significant political issue and a substantial risk for food companies and governments that get it wrong. Complying with regulatory change is just the beginning. Legislation only sets minimum standards, yet customers expect food companies to go further in ensuring food is safe and high quality.

“Our country has been built on the back of its reputation for world-leading food and agriculture industries and there is ultimately nothing more important to people than the food they put in their own bodies,” says Mr Armitage.

In recent months consumers have been alarmed by a number of food safety concerns. Among the most high profile was the alleged substitution of almond and peanut shells for cumin seeds; hepatitis A contamination fears from frozen berry products; and ‘eco-terrorists’ threatening to poison infant milk formula.

Mr Armitage says: “It’s not just small or unsophisticated companies or maturing economies feeling vulnerable to threats. The nature of today’s global and complex supply chains means a more strategic and innovative approach is needed by all.

“Best practice companies are transforming their approach to ensure they have more control and visibility over their supply chains from the farm to the supermarket shelf. They’re investing in technological solutions to improve traceability and recall management, focusing on food safety culture and going well beyond compliance to improve standards.”

PwC is urging change and a more coordinated approach to reduce risks this World Health Day.

“Can we trust our food this World Health Day? It’s a question everyone should ask themselves by joining in a joint government, industry and public effort to raise awareness and knowledge to improve trust in our food.”

PwC is offering its food supply and integrity services in China and New Zealand through a formalised Alliance model with the New Zealand Government owned food safety and biosecurity company AsureQuality. Elsewhere, PwC and AsureQuality are working together to offer their combined services to government and food company clients.

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