In a wide-ranging interview, Dennis highlighted the many industry voices represented at the conference and how forging stronger partnerships could benefit both consumers and the industry.
“We had people from very different perspectives,” he said. “There were: regulators, enforcers, lawyers, insurers, those involved in auditing and inspection as well as food industry and consumer perspectives.”
Closer partnerships and information sharing promised to deliver tangible results, he said. "My wish is that we develop much greater trust between government and industry, which leads to the greater sharing of data, particularly with regard to food safety."
Commercial sensitivities
While acknowledging commercial sensitivities, Dennis highlighted the results delivered by industry-wide partnership dedicated to the control of campylobacter.
“As we have seen with campylobacter collaboration between the Food standards Agency and industry, working together we can have a much bigger impact.
“We can have much bigger impact on increasing the confidence the consumer will have in the food sector if they see partnerships and greater transparency in the food chain."
Consumers' trust
His comments about consumers' trust in the food industry followed a plea for more information sharing about food crime from head of the FSA's Food Crime Unit Andy Morling.
The food crime boss revealed that FSA research confirming that less than half of consumers trusted the people who produce and sell their food.
Food Manufacture's 2016 food safety conference – Boosting consumer confidence in times of change – took place in London on Thursday October 13 2016.
The conference was sponsored by Appetite Learning, Glass Technology Services, Sealed Air, Testo and the University of Greenwich.
Meanwhile, for information about next year's food safety conference, please contact Mike Stones.