For the food and beverage manufacturing sector, the pace of innovation is matched by the level of scrutiny it faces. For food safety solutions company, Neogen, that creates opportunities to bring science, technology, and practical expertise together to help manufacturers manage risk and build consumer trust.
Changing consumer expectations and regulations are just two aspects of a supply chain under pressure to deliver products that are safe, traceable, and compliant.
In that context, Neogen’s recent release of the second edition of the Environmental Monitoring Handbook for the Food and Beverage Industries is timely. With contributions from more than 20 authors and editors and in collaboration with Cornell University and food safety experts from around the world, the 196-page resource is being offered as a free download via the Neogen website.
Put simply, the guide offers a framework that can be tailored to help food and beverage manufacturers implement an effective environmental monitoring program. (See our June/July issue for more detail on the handbook.)
Neogen senior manager Global Customer Education and Enablement, Cari Lingle, says often businesses know what they should be doing but don’t know where to start.
“The guide is useful at whatever stage you are at, from starting out to reflecting or re-examining how they do things and wanting to make the most of the data they have.
“A big roadblock is time or having the mental space to start the process,” she says.
VP Digital Solutions Marketing, David Hatch says there is another mindset creating roadblocks – seeing the food safety team as a cost centre.
“What we want to show is that the food safety team and the outcomes it delivers are an opportunity for the company to grow, mature and ultimately benefit public health. The shift is from seeing it as a cost centre to one of opportunity,” Hatch says.
“Regulations are the floor, not the ceiling. The companies leading the way are those that treat food safety as a strategic driver, not just a cost of doing business.
“When consumers lose confidence in a brand’s safety record, it’s incredibly difficult to win back. That’s why the most forward-thinking companies invest in prevention, not just detection.”
For decades, food safety has largely been driven by compliance and meeting the minimum standards set by regulators.
Neogen Australasia Product Marketing manager, Troy Gosetti, explains how food safety is no longer just reacting to hazards but embedding risk management into every operational decision, supported by real-time data and an ecosystem-wide approach.
For Neogen, that means developing tools and processes for its customers that make proactive risk management achievable, even in complex, global supply chains.
“Environmental monitoring programs (EMP) have been around for some time and a lot of companies are still developing and trying to better their programs. A resource like the handbook is pivotal for end users to better reference something that is an industry norm,” Gosetti says.
He adds that finding a lot of the information in the guide can otherwise be difficult.
“You have to go through a lot of resources to delve into that side of things. It is really a great entry point for customers trying to develop and build upon their current EMP program.
“The data behind them are becoming critical tools for food manufacturers navigating increasingly complex compliance and reputational risks,” Gosetti says.
Harnessing data’s power
The use of data has been one of the biggest shifts in food safety over the past decade. Companies once relied on periodic testing and manual recordkeeping. Today, modern systems can provide continuous streams of information on everything from raw ingredient quality to environmental hygiene.
“Data isn’t just a record, it’s an asset,” says Hatch. “When you can aggregate and analyse it in real time, you move from asking ‘What happened?’ to ‘What’s likely to happen next?’ That predictive element changes everything.”
Lingle agrees, noting that Neogen’s integrated platforms are designed to break down silos between testing, production, and quality assurance teams. “The value is not only in detecting a pathogen or contaminant, but in connecting that result to other operational data points to find the root cause faster and prevent recurrence.”
The human factor
While technology plays a central role, Gosetti points out that food safety remains a fundamentally human endeavour.
“Culture is the make-or-break factor,” he says. “You can have the most advanced systems in the world, but if the people using them don’t understand or believe in their value, the outcomes will be inconsistent.”
Neogen works with its customers to design training programs that fit real-world workflows. “We focus on engagement to help teams understand why each step matters, not just how to follow it,” Lingle says.
Hatch adds that fostering a strong food safety culture requires leadership commitment. “When leaders make it clear that safety is as important as output or profit, it sets the tone for the whole organisation,” he says.
Partnership as a strategy
A recurring theme in the conversation is that Neogen sees itself not as a vendor, but as a partner in food safety.
“We don’t just drop off a piece of equipment and walk away,” Gosetti says. “We work with our customers to integrate it into their processes, train their people, and adapt as their needs change.”
That partnership approach is especially critical in moments of crisis. Hatch recalls a case where a manufacturer faced a sudden contamination incident in a key export market.
“Because we’d already worked closely with their team, and they had real-time access to diagnostic information, they were able to mobilise quickly and implement corrective actions before the issue grew into a major recall.”
Food safe future
For Neogen, industry success will be with those who embed food safety into the DNA of their organisations.
“This isn’t a box you tick once a year,” says Gosetti. “It’s a mindset, a culture, and a continuous process of improvement.”
Lingle adds that the payoff goes beyond compliance. “When you manage risk effectively, you not only protect consumers, but you also protect your brand, market position, and ability to innovate.”
For Neogen, that mission continues to drive innovation – in science, systems, and the way it partners with industry.
This article first appeared in the August/September 2025 edition of Food & Drink Business magazine.
