Also part of The Compliance Accelerator Program
This training can be followed on its own or within a broader compliance implementation program.
Environmental Monitoring Training for Food Safety Systems
Detect contamination risks early and build a risk-based environmental monitoring program that protects your production environment.
Environmental monitoring programs (EMP) are essential to control microbiological risks in food production environments.
GFSI Food safety standards such as IFS Food, BRCGS, and FSSC 22000 require companies to verify that cleaning and hygiene programs effectively control contamination risks.
This environmental monitoring training explains how to design and implement a risk-based environmental monitoring program that detects problems early and supports preventive food safety management.
You will learn how to define monitoring zones, select sampling points, determine sampling frequencies, and interpret laboratory results in a structured way.
In addition, the training explains how to use environmental monitoring results to detect trends, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective actions.
Environmental monitoring programs are closely connected to other food safety processes such as Cleaning and Disinfection programs, CAPA management, and Prerequisite Program (PRP) verification.
What is included in this Training
Mastery Module Environmental Monitoring
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Certificate of completion — proof of continuous training for GFSI audits.
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1 year access — revisit anytime while you implement in your company.
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2 hours on-demand video training — structured, practical, and implementation-focused.
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Curriculum covers:
- Introduction & learning objectives
- The 15 most common mistakes in environmental monitoring programs
- Determining relevant environmental contamination risks
- Using a risk scoring tool to prioritise monitoring locations
- Creating a heat map for difficult and high-risk sampling locations
- Defining a baseline environmental sampling frequency
- Moving towards a dynamic risk-based sampling frequency
- Defining corrective and preventive action plans
- Upgrading your environmental monitoring program using project planning
- Stakeholder management and involving the right departments
- Recap & implementation guidance
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Practical downloads included:
- Environmental Risk Scoring Tool
- Environmental Monitoring Risk Heat Map
- Sampling Frequency Baseline Tool
- Dynamic Environmental Monitoring Toolkit
- Corrective & Preventive Action Plan Template
- Project Planning Tools (Gantt Chart & BOSCARD)
- European Commission Guidance on Listeria monocytogenes monitoring
- FSAI Guidance Note 45 – Environmental Monitoring of Listeria
- NVWA Handbook Food Microbiology
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Ask your questions directly through the portal and receive expert guidance.
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Learn in your language — subtitles available in 13 languages.
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Flexible access — follow on desktop or mobile app.
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Positive impact — we donate 1% via B1G1 to projects supporting food, water, and women empowerment.
What You'll Learn in this Environmental Monitoring Training
Practical training to design and improve your environmental monitoring program and detect contamination risks before they become food safety incidents.
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1. Welcome and Agenda Module - Duration video ± 2 minutes
FREE PREVIEW -
2. 15 Most Common Mistakes in Environmental Monitoring - Duration video ± 45 minutes
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3. Determining Relevant Risks - Duration video ± 14 minutes
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3a. Explanation Download Environmental Risk Scoring Tool - Duration video ± 4 minutes
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3b. DOWNLOAD: Environmental Risk Scoring Tool
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4. Creating a Heat Map for Difficult (Risky) Locations - Duration video ± 3.5 minutes
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4a. Explanation Download Risk Heat Map - Duration video ± 3 minutes
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4b. Risk Heat Map
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5. Define a Sampling Frequency (Starting Point for Trending) - Duration video ± 6 minutes
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5a. Explanation Download Sampling Frequency Baseline Tool - Duration video ± 6 minutes
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5b. DOWNLOAD: Environmental Monitoring
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6. Move Towards a Dynamic Sampling Frequency - Duration video ± 2 minutes
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6a. Explanation Download Dynamic Sampling Toolkit - Duration video ± 2 minutes
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6b. DOWNLOAD: Adaptive Environmental Monitoring
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7. Define Action Plans - Duration video ± 4 minutes
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7a. Explanation Download Corrective & Preventive Action Plan - Duration video ± 2 minutes
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7b. DOWNLOAD: Corrective & Preventive Action Plan
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8. Project Planning - Duration video ± 3 minutes
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8a. Explanation Download Gantt Chart - Duration video ± 3 minutes
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8b. Explanation Download BOSCARD - Duration video ± 2 minutes
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8c. DOWNLOAD: Gantt Chart
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8d. DOWNLOAD: BOSCARD
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9. Stakeholder Management - Duration video ± 4 minutes
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10. What is next - Duration video ± 2.5 minutes
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11a. DOWNLOAD: European Commission Revision 18 December 2025: GUIDANCE DOCUMENT on Listeria monocytogenes monitoring and shelf-life studies for ready-to-eat foods under Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteri
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11b. DOWNLOAD: FSAI Guidance Note 45: Guidance on Environmental Monitoring of Listeria Monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Food Business Operations
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11c. DOWNLOAD: NVWA Handbook food microbiology (Dutch)
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Learn how to identify risky locations, define sampling frequencies, and improve your environmental monitoring system.
- $349.00
- 27 lessons
- 2 hours of video content
Master Environmental Monitoring with Confidence
Practical training to design and improve environmental monitoring programs, detect contamination risks early, and support GFSI compliance.
Environmental monitoring programs play a critical role in preventing microbiological contamination in food production environments. However, many organizations struggle with ineffective sampling strategies, unclear risk prioritization, or monitoring programs that do not detect problems early enough.
This training helps QA and QC professionals strengthen their environmental monitoring program with clear guidance on risk assessment, sampling location design, sampling frequency, and corrective actions. With practical tools and structured methods, you will identify high-risk areas, improve monitoring effectiveness, and build a program that supports continuous improvement and audit readiness.
Instructors and Coaches
Kitty is known for her people-first approach. As an interim QA manager, she has guided struggling teams — often working under high stress or unsupportive leadership — back to a place of confidence, clarity, and food safety excellence. Her motto, “Many roads lead to Rome,” reflects her flexible, empowering mindset.
She finds joy in helping quality professionals unlock their potential, overcome internal and external challenges, and become balanced, respected voices within their organizations.
💬 “Nothing is more fulfilling than seeing a QA professional stand tall, speak up, and truly own their role.”
Connect with Kitty on LinkedIn by clicking here
Instructors and Coaches
As a frequent speaker at global conferences including the IFC (World Bank) and FI Global, Rob is recognized for his practical expertise in GFSI standards and organizational improvement. Over the past decade, he has coached many QA Directors and Vice Presidents in the food industry, helping them influence senior management and embed food safety into business culture.
💬 “I help QA professionals turn complex requirements into real-world results.”
Connect with Rob on LinkedIn by clicking here
Instructors and Coaches
💬 “La mejora real surge cuando conectamos las normas con la aplicación práctica en el día a día.”
Conéctese con Luis en LinkedIn by clicking here
Frequently Asked Questions
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What will I learn in this training?
In this training, you will learn how to design and improve a risk-based environmental monitoring program for your facility.
You will learn how to identify relevant contamination risks, prioritise difficult sampling locations, and create a heat map to visualise high-risk areas. The training also explains how to define an effective sampling frequency and how to move towards a dynamic monitoring program based on results and trends.
In addition, you will learn how to define corrective actions when environmental results exceed limits and how to involve the right stakeholders to improve your monitoring program.
By the end of the training, you will have practical tools and templates that help you implement or upgrade your environmental monitoring program within a few weeks.
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How long does the training take?
The training includes approximately 1.5 hours of video lessons that you can watch at your own pace.
Most participants complete the training and start implementing the tools within 2 to 4 weeks, depending on their schedule and the size of their facility.
You will have 1 year of access, so you can revisit the lessons anytime while implementing or improving your environmental monitoring program.
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Does the training include a certificate?
Yes. After completing the training, you will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate serves as evidence of continuous training, which is often requested during GFSI audits and internal competency evaluations.
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Is the training relevant for my role?
Yes. This training is designed for QA and QC professionals working in the food industry who are responsible for environmental monitoring or microbiological control.
It is particularly relevant for QA Managers, QC Managers, Food Safety Managers, and Technical Managers who want to design or improve their environmental monitoring program.
The training is also useful for QC teams performing environmental sampling and for professionals responsible for reviewing monitoring results, defining corrective actions, and supporting GFSI compliance.
If your role involves environmental monitoring, microbiological risk control, or food safety system management, this training will provide practical tools to strengthen your program.
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Are subtitles available?
Yes. Subtitles are available in 13 languages, making the training accessible for international teams.
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Can I watch this training on my phone or table?
Yes. The training can be followed on desktop, tablet, or mobile phone through the learning platform or the mobile app. This allows you to learn whenever it fits your schedule.
