Dairy Processing - December 2021 - 60

FOOD SAFETY
PREPAREDNESS
More than three-quarters of senior level North American
food and beverage executives are actively preparing for a
future global pandemic, according to a new study by AIB
International. The survey of 325 senior level North American
executives was conducted by Research Strategy Group on
behalf of AIB International.
According to the survey, 78% of food and beverage
executives are actively preparing for a future global
pandemic, with 30% expecting another one within the next
four years and 50% expecting one within the next decade.
The survey also found 61% of respondents said their
company did not have an adequate plan in place to deal with
the COVID-19 pandemic when it began.
" Even after the past year of disruption, almost half of
respondents indicated they are still not adequately prepared
with a plan for the future, " said Anne Coulter, managing
director of Research Strategy Group. " Combined with the
fact that 30% believe another global pandemic will occur in
next four years - and a full 50% say within the next 10 years
- that lack of preparedness is startling. "
Steve Robert, global vice president of product innovation
at AIB International, said the research highlights the
dramatic impacts felt by so many companies in the industry
due to a lack of preparedness.
" Despite the understandable 'crisis fatigue' from
grappling with COVID-19 over the past year, it's clear that
now is the time to prepare for the future and elevate critical
planning to a best-in-class standard, " Mr. Robert said.
" Should a future pandemic occur, improved preparedness
will help offset some of the costs and disruption that so
many operations have realized over the past year. "
In July 2020, AIB International introduced a Pandemic
Court orders OSHA to
suspend vaccine mandate
The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced
that it is suspending the enforcement of the vaccine
mandate from the Biden administration.
On Nov. 12, the US Court of Appeals for the
Fifth Circuit granted a motion to stay on OSHA's
COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency
Temporary Standard (ETS).
" The court ordered that OSHA 'take no steps to
implement or enforce' the ETS 'until further court
order,' " the agency said on its website. " While OSHA
remains confident in its authority to protect workers
in emergencies, OSHA has suspended activities
related to the implementation and enforcement
of the ETS pending future developments in the
litigation. "
In a previous statement from the White House
and OSHA, any US company that employed more
than 100 people was going to need to have their
workforce vaccinated by Jan. 4 or test for COVID-19
on a weekly basis.
The Biden administration is encouraging all
workers and businesses to continue to follow the
guidance and vaccinate people.
" We think people should not wait, " said Karine
Jean-Pierre, deputy press secretary. " We say do not
wait to take actions that will keep your workplace
safe. It is important and critical to do and waiting
to get more people vaccinated will lead to more
outbreaks and sickness. "
-Ryan McCarthy
" Even after the
past year of
disruption, almost
half of respondents
indicated they are
still not adequately
prepared with a
plan for the future. "
Anne Coulter, managing director,
Research Strategy Group
60 DEC 2021 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
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Dairy Processing - December 2021

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