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The Risk-Based Inspections Maturity Model helps retail food safety programs assess their current capabilities and identify opportunities to maximize the effectiveness of their risk-based inspection approach. This flexible assessment tool guides program development and highlights growth potential for enhanced food safety outcomes.
Risk-based inspections are the best, most-effective methodology for conducting retail food inspections. However, a well-developed risk-based inspection program includes elements that go beyond inspections to maximize impact and incorporate best practices.
The Maturity Model for Risk-Based Inspections in Retail Food Safety Programs was developed to be a stand-alone resource to provide ideas for maximizing risk-based inspection program development. It is based on retail program feedback and best practices, as well as existing resources including Annex 5 of the FDA Model Food Code, and the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards. The model is not prescriptive and allows flexibility for unique agency challenges as it is intended to be a tool to highlight program growth potential through the incorporation of risk-based inspection concepts throughout retail program leadership.
Each Element in the model is evaluated individually. A program may be at Level 1 in one Element and Level 3 in another. This model helps identify where a program is, and where it can go in the future to fully incorporate risk-based inspection methodology.
The model is available here: Maturity Model: Risk-Based Inspections in Retail Food Safety Programs
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