The Food Industry’s 2020 Retail Food Safety Priorities

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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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.

The food industry is entering a new, critical food marketplace that’s focused on advancing technology, digitalization and information sharing. FMI organized a meeting with the FMI Food Protection Committee to set this year’s top food safety initiatives to strengthen the industry’s leadership and commitment to protecting public health.

<p>By: Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, CFS, Chief Food and Product Safety Officer and SVP Food Safety, FMI </p> <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/fpc-2020.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=2de0506e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="mg-caption: The FMI Food Protection Committee visited leafy green farms in Yuma, AZ to learn about water safety. " title="FPC 2020" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" /> <p>The food industry is entering a new, critical food marketplace that’s focused on advancing technology, digitalization and information sharing. All the while, retailers continue to prioritize the health and safety of their customers. FMI organized a meeting with the FMI Food Protection Committee to set this year’s top food safety initiatives to strengthen the industry’s leadership and commitment to protecting public health. </p> <h4><em> Listeria</em> at Retail</h4> <p>Retailers continue to focus efforts on<em> Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) </em>prevention and control and look for novel ways to do so<em>. </em>Retailers are working with regulators and academics to <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/43e9b2f6-417e-4b9b-97b2-e0b72420407d/10310.1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES">monitor</a> and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-36654-z">predict</a> the presence of <em>Lm </em>throughout a facility. FMI will promote the industry-wide adoption of tools and best practices,  including the FMI <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety-best-practice-guides/fs16-fmi_listeria_2016.pdf?sfvrsn=2"><em>Listeria</em> Action Plan for Retailers</a> and <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety-best-practice-guides/fmi-cleaning-and-sanitation-guide-final-oct-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=2ede536e_0">Cleaning and Sanitation Guide for Food Retail</a>, and work to develop and evaluate additional strategies for <em>Listeria </em>prevention. </p> <h4><strong>Leafy Greens </strong></h4> <p>Since the leafy green outbreaks in 2018, FMI released the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety/leafy-greens-guide19_aug19.pdf">Recommended Food Safety Practices for Leafy Greens</a> to help prevent pathogenic <em>E. coli</em> and <em>Salmonella</em> contamination, but due to ongoing food safety issues, more work needs to be done. FMI will champion member efforts to influence supplier and grower food safety practices and enhance regulatory engagement throughout the supply chain.</p> <h4><strong>Consumer Advisories and Supplier Communications/Response </strong></h4> <p>Retailers protect public health in foodborne outbreak events through fast and effective product removal and communications with consumers. Most consumer notifications are due to recalls, but sometimes regulatory agencies publish consumer advisory notices to alert customers about commodity-specific risks. To address operational and regulatory challenges associated with these notices, FMI will work with the entire supply chain and regulatory officials to understand the perceptions and actions, and the most effective ways to protect public health.</p> <h4><strong>Smarter Food Safety </strong></h4> <p>In late 2019, FMI <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/gr/neweraoffoodsafetyfmicommentsfinal.pdf?sfvrsn=bc21526e_2">submitted comments</a> on the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative. The Food Protection Committee continues to focus on protecting public health and advancing food safety by working to identify opportunities to create more efficient and innovative technologies and processes.   </p> <a href="https://www.fmi.org/food-safety/food-safety-resources" class="button-secondary">FMI Food Safety Resources</a>

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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.