When you are in the business of making food products, whether it is snacks or full meals, you don’t want your customers getting sick from eating them. That can only mean problems for your company as you face health inspections, penalties, and maybe lawsuits. So it is in your interest to maximize food safety in your manufacturing plant. Here are some things that you can do to ensure that your products are safe to consume:
Start With The Ingredients
You need to start with your raw materials. It doesn’t matter how many precautions you take but if you source the ingredients of your product from unsafe sources, then you will have problems. They may get contaminated from the moment they are harvested or collected so you need to be sure that you can trust your supplier. If possible, you should have a checker that ensures that the ingredients coming in are meeting government regulations and requirements of safety. A lot of food safety problems stem from using substandard and unsafe ingredients so these checks can help a lot.
Get The Most Sanitary Equipment
A lot of modern food products are not made by hand anymore. Industrial processes mean that machinery usually does a lot of work. However, that means there is a chance of contamination from the various parts that touch the food. This is especially so when it is not completely sanitary. A lot of manufacturers avoid this worry by using food-grade equipment.
This means that they have components that are easy to clean and have less chance of bringing in the dirt. For example, a lot of food companies use an oil-less air compressor system to pipe in the compressed air needed for various processes. This is because there is no chance of oil particles mixing in with the air. This eliminates one worry when it comes to equipment that uses lubricants and other possible contaminants.
Train Your Employees In Proper Hygiene
Another important part of food safety is that you should train your employees in proper hygiene. There are several hygienic practices recommended by government agencies that can help ensure that food is uncontaminated and safe. The most important is regular hand washing. This is especially when food comes into contact with the worker’s hands. Additionally, teaching your staff to wear protective and sanitary clothing when working with food can help a lot. Gloves, masks, and full-body covering can do a lot to restrict the spread of contaminants, especially when they are disposed of immediately.
Ensure The Packaging Is Safe
Solid and secure packaging is also essential. While you can do everything right inside your factory, there is a good chance that the food might end up contaminated during transit. To avoid this, you want packaging that is as secure as possible. For example, secure vacuum packing prevents any air from entering your food package, securing it from bacteria and even slowing down the process of decay. This can even extend the life of your product. Experiment with the current technology and you’ll find an excellent packing solution.
Always Have Quality Assurance Checks
But there is always a chance that your products end up getting contaminated. It is always a good idea to check on your food at various parts of the process. Even when they are out in the field, you should occasionally check in to ensure that you have good products to sell. If something is wrong, you should also have clear pull out procedures to ensure the safety of your consumers.
Investing in increased food safety can be a good move for you. Customers like to know that they can trust the food they are eating. With the proper food safety measures, you should be able to assure them that whenever they open a food package from you, they can bite down with full confidence.