Global Incident Alert Network Working Group

Mission

Sampling of food for safety is in most countries less than 1%. The chances of government agencies finding serious food safety incidents before there are victims consequently are very small. Usually people find out first, thus when it is too late.

Employees working in the food industry may know and some are most likely to know about incidents before the product is put on the market. Employees, however, often do not dare to report the incident because of the potential consequences, such as losing their job or demotion.

Objectives

The objective of the WG is developing an anonymous system to limit the consequences of dangerous chemicals added to food or the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in food. The system is intended to enable employees to report such incidents that otherwise would not be reported fully anonymously - hence to effectively protect whistle-blowers.

For that purpose, an easy-to-find and well-known webpage is being developed. It will have a reporting form with questions to obtain as many as possible details about the incident. The questions have to be answered, however, without information that could be used to identify the reporter. Nevertheless, the information needs to be as complete as possible because there will be no possibility to ask the anonymous whistle-blower later. The whistle-blower needs to realize that the case can only be addressed with sufficient details.

Using its global network GHI will check if the report is real or is meant to defame a company and individuals, take revenge or inappropriate humor.

If real and serious, the GHI Office will alert the local National Public Health Institute(s) who then have to handle the incident.

The reason that the GHI Office and not a local GHI Ambassador or a local GHI Member would inform the authorities is to avoid exposing anybody to unnecessary risks of retaliation.

Contact: gian@globalharmonization.net