Resources
Food safety programs, culture, HACCP, allergens and regulation.
Food manufacturers operate in one of the most highly regulated industries in the world. Whether preparing for a certification audit, a customer assessment, or a regulatory inspection, maintaining consistent compliance is essential. However, organisations that only prepare for aud
Food safety compliance is increasingly more complex because food regulations are changing, customer demands are rising and the interdependency of food supply chains is getting bigger. Keeping records on paper or in separate spreadsheets can be cumbersome and challenging in terms
Food allergen control is one of the most tightly monitored aspects of food safety. If you are being audited for SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000, or a customer, and you have incomplete or out-of-date records, they can be a big source of non-conformities. Good allergen management isn’t just
Food safety culture requirements are the formalized standards and practices an organization needs to put in place to ensure that food safety is a value, a mindset and a behavior for the entire organization, from the CEO to the front line operator.
HACCP plan documentation requirements are the minimum documentation requirements for food manufacturers to demonstrate that they have a valid Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system in place that is monitoring and controlling the hazards in food. The strength of
The food traceability FSMA 204 requirements are recordkeeping requirements under the FDA’s Food Traceability Rule designed to increase the speed and accuracy of food recalls. Companies that make, process, pack, transport, store or retail food items on the Food Traceability List (
If you’re comparing food safety software right now, you’re probably dealing with one of these situations: your current system is a patchwork of spreadsheets, shared drives, and email chains that barely holds together during audits. Or you’ve outgrown a basic tool and need somethi
The documentation that constitutes a food recall, such as proof of lot codes, distribution lists, and communication records, is a specific type of documentation that shows that a hazardous product has been successfully removed from the supply chain. Document Compliance Network (D
The food traceability rule is a federal regulation, the FSMA Rule 204, that mandates that businesses keep in-depth records of Key Data Elements (KDEs) for certain foods so that they can trace back easily in the event of a foodborne illness outbreak. In the United States, automate
An approved supplier programme is a documented system for evaluating and monitoring suppliers before purchasing materials, ingredients, packaging, or services.
The FDA has recently started a quarterly podcast that is focusing on the new era for smarter food safety initiative that is composed of four core elements.
No matter where you are in your food safety program journey, odds are it was built by you or a prior colleague. In either case, it is likely that your existing program will need to be modified as food safety regulations continue to change. To stay up-to-date on new or modified re
Developing a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan involves a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and controlling food safety hazards in order to ensure the production of safe food. To start off we are going to go over the 12 steps to a HACCP Plan, then
Preparing for a food safety audit can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. The purpose of these audits is to ensure that your food meets the highest standards and keeps your customers safe. Let’s explore some steps that can help you confide
Starting in 2026, you may need to follow new traceability rules for the foods you process. These rules apply to any manufacturer who works with foods like fresh produce and fish. Look at the FDA’s Food Traceability List for the complete list of foods affected by these rules. The
In the United States, there are two key agencies that are involved in the regulatory oversite of food manufacturing: the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). While both make sure that food is produced safely, they each have th
In an evolving world where supply chains are becoming more dynamic by the week, simplifying food safety within the supply chain has never been more important. Food manufacturers must pivot between suppliers and have the flexibility to source ingredients to meet production needs b
The food supply chain is complex and interconnected and travels through many hands before it gets to the end consumer. In order to keep food safe and available, it is essential that any business that touches the food from start to finish have a transparent relationship with each
This year has been filled with changes such as blended or remote audits, a new edition of SQF, and the “New Era of Food Safety” which continues to dominate the conversation.
If you’re like most people, “Change Ahead,” can trigger excitement, apprehension, and a whole umbrella of emotions all at once. To a Food Safety & Quality Leader who is constantly juggling new customer requirements, new GFSI requirements, new internal requirements, and yes, new r
Fido is more than man’s best friend, he is family now. Many pets like dogs and cats are now more like family to many that own them. We rely on pet food companies to make the food that we feed our pets. For the purpose of this article, we will be focusing on the regulation and pra
As a food manufacturer, you may encounter a variety of audits. You could have a third party (HACCP, GFSI), regulatory (FDA inspections), customer, and internal audits. All of these audits have a common theme; producing safe food for consumers.
Whether you have a simple or complex supply chain, documentation management can be overwhelming. At the moment, you’re probably manually tracking and managing your food safety documentation. I’ll even bet that the documents are stored in a binder in someone’s office or saved in a
Imagine, it’s your first day in a new Food Safety & Quality (FSQ) role at a new company. You’re anxious to review things like the HACCP and Food Safety plans and review supplier approval documents to understand the current plan and the critical elements of your food safety progra
