Where would your brand be without the loyalty and trust of its consumers? A company that suffers from diminished consumer confidence is a company at risk of failure -- or, at the very least, significant loss. Therefore, protecting your brand image is of the utmost importance, though this can be a major challenge in today's food industry climate. As federal regulations evolve, consumers become more informed and the number of food safety incidents climbs, there's one undeniable truth at the core of protecting your brand: You must adopt a preventive approach.