Lookback: Showcasing how we turn our data into standards in order to create Safe Food for everyone

What a brilliant few weeks it has been across Tirlán as our teams came together to mark World Food Safety Day 2026. This year’s message, “Turning our data into standards – Safe Food for everyone,” from the World Food Safety theme “From Burden to Solutions”, really landed across the business, because it speaks to what we do every day. Food safety is not something that sits in one department or on one audit checklist. It is in the records we complete, the checks we challenge, the standards we follow and the moments where someone stops and says, “Hang on, let’s make sure this is right.”

A real highlight of the celebrations was the live-streamed session with Dr Cormac McElhinney from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, who joined colleagues and ELT representation in AQ and across our national and global teams. Cormac gave a very timely reminder that food safety and food security are completely connected – because without safe food, there is no secure food supply. He also brought the bigger picture into focus, showing how global challenges such as climate change, conflict and supply chain disruption can have very real impacts on food safety.

One of the strongest messages from the session was the importance of data, early-warning intelligence and collaboration. The more we share information, spot trends and use our data well, the better placed we are to identify risks before they escalate. Cormac also showcased some innovative tools and strategies, including advanced risk intelligence systems and digital collaboration platforms, showing how data and technology can help organisations anticipate and prevent issues rather than simply react to them.

Across our sites, that same theme came to life in a very practical way. Drogheda focused on how daily site data and risk analysis drive standards and policies, while also sharing household safe food information packs with employees. Lough Egish got everyone involved through an interactive “Our Data → Our Standards” visual wall, asking colleagues to connect the data they collect with the standards it supports. Ballitore and the Oat Mill team held a cross-collaboration session, sharing site activities and key food safety initiatives. Wexford held a food safety week with an impressive escape room quiz and Virginia showed their initiative by sharing their “burdens” and the “solutions”. BRG showcased their “SAFER” initiative to show how that “Real Testing” and “Real Results” create “Real food safety”. These are the kinds of activities that really build culture – not because they are big or complicated, but because they help people see how their everyday work supports the bigger food safety system.

There was fantastic energy right across the business, with brilliant participation from all sites. The photos captured it beautifully – smiling teams, creative displays, strong site engagement and plenty of pride in the work we do. A special congratulations to Belview, our Site Photo winner, for capturing the spirit of the day so well. Their photo stood out because it showed exactly what we want to see – teamwork, ownership and food safety being brought to life at site level.

And of course, no Tirlán event is complete without a bit of healthy competition. A big well done to Craig Hannaon, (Belview) winner of the online Food Safety Quiz. The quiz was a great reminder that sometimes the best learning comes from a bit of fun, a few tricky questions and the quiet determination not to be beaten by someone from another site!

Thank you to everyone who took part, shared photos, joined the sessions, supported the activities and helped bring World Food Safety Day to life. Days like this matter because they remind us that safe food is not an end-of-line check. It is a shared responsibility, built into every role, every site and every decision we make. Together, we are not just compliant – we are exceptional.