The Speed of Food Product Recalls

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

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OMEGA is a West Virginia-based organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the business interests of the state’s petroleum marketing, retail grocery, and convenience store industries.

As a network of over 225 locally owned businesses, OMEGA actively promotes cooperation, advocates for favorable legislation, and provides education and resources to its members. With over 50,000 employees, OMEGA members significantly contribute to the state’s economy, generating more than 10% of all state taxes and supporting local communities through scholarships, charitable donations, and civic involvement.

OMEGA is committed to fostering industry growth while serving West Virginians with essential services like fuel, food, and convenience.

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Your Essential Connection in West Virginia

OMEGA offers three types of membership: Convenience Store Members, Petroleum Marketer Members, and Grocer Members, all of which play a vital role in providing fuel, food, and essentials across West Virginia. As a liaison with state and national agencies, OMEGA works closely with organizations like NACS, PMAA, FMI, and the N.G.A. to advocate on behalf of its members.

We keep members informed through newsletters, legislative updates, an online resource hub, and educational seminars. Additional member benefits include access to the Encova Workers’ Compensation Discount Program and participation in our annual Trade Expo and fundraising efforts for children’s charities. OMEGA is here to support, advocate, and enhance the success of our industry members.

Change is occurring in our industry at a rapid pace, but one thing hasn’t: food retailers’ commitment to food safety and communicating relevant recall information to their customers wherever – and however – they shop.

By: Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, CFS, Chief Food and Product Safety Officer and Vice President, Food Safety Programs <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/anatomy-of-a-recall0BA67D7A381A.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=504fb66f_0" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Anatomy of a Recall" title="Anatomy of a Recall" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> Change is occurring in our industry at a rapid pace, but one thing hasn’t: food retailers’ commitment to food safety and communicating relevant recall information to their customers wherever – and however – they shop.  The food retail industry works within the regulatory framework and acts quickly with its business partners, food manufacturers and processors, to remove recalled product from shelves and notify shoppers. This is the most fundamental service they provide to maintain the trust of their customers. In fact, shoppers’ top-four safety priorities for food retailers outlined in the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2017</a> report are: food free from contaminants; rotation of perishables; safe handling and rapid response to recalls. When it comes to notifying customers of product recalls, <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">shoppers tell us</a> they want to receive this information in a variety of ways including email (56%), in-store notifications (39%), text messages (26%), information at the checkout register (25%) and social media updates (18%). As technology and the way we communicate evolve, retailers are developing more effective and efficient ways to notify customers about product recalls that meets the shopper’s needs. While every recall is a response to risk mitigation, the causes, responses and communications vary on a case by case basis. Undeclared allergens are actually the leading cause of U.S. food recalls. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that Reportable Food Registry reports of undeclared food allergens increased from <a href="https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/ComplianceEnforcement/RFR/UCM502117.pdf" target="_blank">30 percent to 47 percent</a>  during the five year period from 2009-2013. As a proactive measure to better understand root-cause labeling errors, FMI and its Foundation awarded the Food Allergy Research and Resource Program (<a href="http://farrp.unl.edu/">FARRP</a>) at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s Food Science and Technology Department a grant in September 2017 to identify issues and to recommend best-practice procedures for manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in order to reduce undeclared allergen recalls. FMI Foundation is proud to support research which aims to improve public health efforts nationwide by identifying ways for retailers to improve food safety practices. Previously, the FMI food safety team has written about the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2014/07/09/anatomy-of-a-food-recall">anatomy of a recall</a>, outlining the role food retailers’ play in the process, and we’ve discussed <a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2017/06/30/working-with-fda-during-a-recall">how food retailers work with the FDA during the recall process</a>. FMI also has important <a href="https://www.fmi.org/food-safety/recalls">food recall resources</a> that help companies prepare and establish processes for food recalls including our <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety/guidance-for-food-retail-product-recall.pdf?sfvrsn=2">Guidance for Retailers: Product Recall</a> document. The reality is that food product recalls happen, and are the last step in the chain of prevention. Preventing foodborne contamination is always the primary goal. Recalls are the final step in the process and speed and communication matter in making sure that we remove product as quickly as possible and communicate to all impacted parties.

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Supporting West Virginia Communities

OMEGA members play a vital role in West Virginia, supporting communities through substantial tax contributions and a wide-reaching presence across the state. With over 55% of the population living in border counties, our members are dedicated to serving both local and regional needs. Beyond business, we’re proud to give back, having contributed over $3.1 million to children’s charities since 2003, reflecting our commitment to making a positive difference.