Practical analysis of the impact of food safety culture on food safety system management effectiveness in Moroccan food companies

<ns3:p>Background The study of the determinants of food safety culture and their influences on the effectiveness of management systems in agri-food companies in Morocco will help companies in their efforts to implement management systems. Methods This article presents the results of a quantitative empirical study conducted among quality and food safety managers in Moroccan companies certified according to one or more of these standards: ISO9001, ISO22000 and FSSC22000. The objective of this study is to assess the extent to which food safety culture impacts the food safety management system. Results Statistical analysis of questionnaire data shows that evaluation and performance of the food safety management system is statistically significantly positively impacted with a medium effect by the awareness and knowledge of risks and with a weak effect by the involvement and role of management and supervisory staff, the Effective Complaint Management variable is statistically significantly positively impacted with a medium effect by the Involvement and Role of Management and Supervisory Staff, the Confidence in the Food Safety management system is statistically significantly positively impacted with a weak effect by the priority and attitude of employees and with a medium effect by the involvement and Role of Management and Supervisory Staff. Conclusions This study concludes that these variables, components of food safety culture: awareness and knowledge of risks, involvement and role of management and supervisory staff and priority and attitude of employees, have a greater impact on the food safety management system. It suggests that these variables further detailed in food safety standards and also integrated into food safety regulations in Morocco.</ns3:p>