Filters
Safety Culture and Pro-Quality Awareness of Employees as Key Factors in Sustainable Management of Food Sector Enterprises
Sustainable business management in the food sector entails the systematic integration of social, environmental, and economic considerations into organizational decision-making, which has direct implications for food safety assurance systems. This study sought to evaluate how the maturity of an organization’s safety culture influences employees’ pro-quality and food-safety-related behaviors. A complementary objective was to examine employees’ understanding of pro-quality awareness in the context of the principles, goals, and operational procedures associated with sustainable management. The research was carried out in three food industry enterprises located in the Greater Poland region. The methodological framework consisted of internal audits assessing compliance with food safety and quality management standards, combined with a structured questionnaire survey. A total of 169 employees from various operational and administrative departments participated. The results indicate that employees’ professional qualifications and organizational roles significantly affect their awareness of how individual actions contribute to food safety and product quality outcomes. Moreover, the implementation of a sustainable, systems-oriented management approach supported a more comprehensive understanding of food production processes where employees recognize their impacts on public health, the socio-economic environment, natural ecosystems, and future generations. At the same time, this approach underscores the interdependence between employee well-being, organizational performance, and consumer protection.
Utilizing the IFS Standard for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Practices in Juice Production
The aim of this study was to identify the most common threats and non-compliances occurring during the production of unpasteurized fruit juices in relation to the requirements of the IFS standard. Additionally, this study aimed to demonstrate how the IFS standard supports the introduction of sustainable practices in the production of fruit juices. The research material was data from internal audits conducted in three plants producing unpasteurized fruit juices and final product microbial assessment and swabs from the production environment taken from the three plants. These plants are located in western Poland. Based on the assessment carried out, it was found that most non-compliances were identified in the areas covered by prerequisite programs, but the final product and production environment met product and production safety requirements. It was also stated that the corrective actions proposed and approved by the auditors correct the existing non-compliance without the aspect of continuous improvement. The research and audits carried out as part of this work allowed us to conclude that international standards, such as the IFS, are an excellent tool for introducing the principles of a sustainable approach to production plants.