Why Food Safety and Crisis Communications Professionals Should Be Best Friends

By: Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, FMI Vice President, Food Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute  and Heather Garlich, Senior Director Media and Public Relations, Food Marketing Institute

Whether a food recall, a new food safety news story or questions about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) implementation, as the food safety and communications professionals at FMI we’re pretty much inseparable when these topics arise. That’s because crisis communications in food retail is often all about food safety and communications professionals working together.  We each bring to the situation certain expertise that is critical to crisis communications. 

The food safety expert is the subject matter expert. Scientists have the background, technical information and resources to be able to explain the food safety issue or answer questions that may arise. At the same time, communications experts have the media experience, the communications skills and can help translate complex information into simple and clear messages. Communicators help food safety professionals break down the information so it is manageable and shared in a clear, understandable way. By working together we make a formidable team that help customers and shoppers clearly get the information they need to make informed decisions.

Because crisis communications is such an important topic, we are hosting a Crisis Communications 101 session at the FMI Foundation Retail Food Safety Forum June 11 - 12 in Chicago. Attendees will hear Stephen McCauley from The Ginger Network talk about the steps food safety experts can take to be better prepared for crisis communications. Stephen has been in the communications business for more than two decades and has counseled countless companies through crisis situations. The session is sure to make any food safety expert go back to their company and quickly become friends with their communications colleagues.