The Importance of Food Safety in Manufacturing - Sesotec

Food safety refers to routines in the preparation, handling and storage of food meant to prevent foodborne illness and injury. Contact Contact Contact Sendanemail  Service-Hotline Newsletter Contact Sendanemail  Service-Hotline Newsletter FoodSafety 29/01/2020|Sesotec WhatisFoodSafety? Foodsafetyreferstoroutinesinthepreparation,handlingandstorageoffoodmeanttopreventfoodborneillnessandinjury.Fromfarmtofactorytofork,foodproductsmayencounteranynumberofhealthhazardsduringtheirjourneythroughthesupplychain.Safefoodhandlingpracticesandproceduresarethusimplementedateverystageofthefoodproductionlifecycleinordertocurbtheserisksandpreventharmtoconsumers. Asa scientificdiscipline,foodsafetydrawsfromawiderangeofacademicfields, includingchemistry,microbiologyandengineering.Thesediverseschoolsof thoughtconvergetoensurethatfoodprocessingsafetyiscarriedoutwherever foodproductsaresourced,manufactured,prepared,stored,orsold.Inthis sense,foodsafetyisasystemicapproachtohygieneandaccountabilitythat concernseveryaspectoftheglobalfoodindustry. Thefollowingarticle definesfoodsafetyinmanufacturingandexplainstheimportanceoffoodsafety fortheglobalfoodchain.Followingabriefoverviewofthedifferent regulatorybodiestaskedwithevaluatingfoodsafetyaroundtheworld,the articleoutlinesthekeyprinciplesofeffectivefoodsafetyregulation,the historyoffoodsafetyandtheconsequencesofunsafefoodhandlingpractices andproceduresforcompaniesandconsumers. Foodsafetyregulationsinaglobalisedworld Foodproductsareamongthemost-tradedcommoditiesintheworld.As marketsbecomeincreasinglyglobalisedwitheachpassingyear,andasthe world’spopulationcontinuestogrow,theglobalfoodsupplychainwillonly continuetoincreaseinscaleandcomplexity.Preciselybecauseofthese megatrendsinfluencingthemassproductionanddistributionoffood,food safetycompliancehasneverbeenmoreimportant. Everycountryhasdifferentregulatorybodiesthatpresideoverthe definitionandenforcementofdomesticfoodsafetystandards.Inordertosell ormanufacturefoodproductsinanygivencountry,domesticandinternational businessesalikearesubjecttothefoodsafetylegislationandenforcement measuresofthatnation.IntheEuropeanUnion,forexample,foodsafety legislationisdetailedinRegulation(EC)852.IntheUnitedStates, theFoodSafetyModernizationActoutlinesthelegal requirementsforfoodsafety. Aroundtheworld,themajorityoflawsaboutfoodsafetyarebasedon twoconcepts:HACCPandGMP. HACCP–HazardAnalysisandCriticalControl Pointsisasystemic,risk-basedapproachtopreventingthebiological, chemicalandphysicalcontaminationoffoodinproduction, packaginganddistributionenvironments.TheHACCPconceptisdesignedto counterhealthhazardsbyidentifyingpotentialfoodsafetyproblemsbefore theyhappen,ratherthaninspectfoodproductsforhazardsafterthefact.TheHACCP conceptentailscontrollingforcontaminantsatanumberofkeyjuncturesin thefoodproductionprocessandstrictadherencetohygienepractices throughout. GMP–GoodManufacturingPracticesareinternationally recognisedqualityassuranceguidelinesfortheproductionoffood,beverages, cosmetics,pharmaceuticals,dietarysupplementsandmedicaldevices.These guidelineslayouttheprotocolswhichmanufacturersmustimplementtoassure thattheirproductsareconsistentlyhigh-qualityfrombatchtobatchandsafe forhumanuse,including mandatoryproductinspectionatcriticalcontrolpoints. Therearealsoseveralprivately-ownedinternationalorganisationsthat providecomprehensiveguidelinesforauditingfoodmanufacturersonthebasis offoodsafetyandhygiene.Theseinternationalstandardsfacilitatetheglobal foodtradebyhelpingfoodindustryplayersfromdifferentcountriestoensure thatfoodqualityandsafetystandardsaremetinawaythattranscends borders. Inadditiontocomplyingwiththefoodsafetylawsofthecountriesin whichtheyareactive,globalmarketleadersinthefoodindustryoftenpursue certificationwithanumberofprivatefoodregulators.Theymayfurthermore demandthattheupstreamanddownstreamsupplierstheyworkwithprovideproof ofthesamecertifications. Internationallyrecognisedfoodsafetyorganisationsandcertification programsinclude: IFSFood6.1–TheIFSFoodStandardispartoftheGlobal FoodSafetyInitiativeandisaninternationalstandardforperforming auditsoffoodmanufacturingprocesses.Theircomplianceauditsconcernboth thefactoryfloorandadministrativeduties,withregulationsontopicsranging fromtheinstallationoffooddefenceandinspectionequipmenttothorough bookkeeping.    BRCGS–TheBritishRetailConsortiumGlobalStandards(formerlyBRC)area setofinternationalconsumerprotectioncertificationsthatprovidesafety criteriaforglobalfoodretailers,foodmanufacturers,packagingmanufacturers andfoodserviceorganisations.Theircertificationforfoodmanufacturers includesanassessmentoftheequipmentusedtodetectandremovephysical contaminants.   SQF–TheSafeQualityFoodInstituteprovidesdetailed safetyprogramstailoredtothespecificconcernsofdifferentfoodindustry players.ThevariousSQFcodesaresegmentedtoaddresstheuniqueconditions ofeachstageofthefoodproductionlifecycle,fromagriculturetopackaging, frommanufacturingtoretail.EachSQFprogramisinternationallyrecognised.   Eachoftheseprivatefoodsafetyorganisationshavebuilttheir certificationprogramsaroundISO22000,aninternationalnormforfoodsafety managementsystems: ISO22000–TheInternationalOrganisationforStandardisationdetailsaproactive managementplanforfoodsafetyrelevantforanyorganisationalongthefoodsupply chain.ISO22000includesaninteractivecommunicationstrategybetween upstreamanddownstreamindustryplayersandacomprehensivesystemfor management.Furthermore,thenormencompassesamodelforhowtoimplementa customisedHACCPconceptdependingontheindustry,productandfacilities.For instance,shouldariskofmetalcontaminationbeidentified,ISO22000may recommendtheinstallationofametaldetectorwitharejectionmechanismto managethehazard. Whoisresponsibleforenforcingfoodsafetystandards? Whilethe internationalregulatorybodieslistedaboveprovideguidance,certification andauditingservicesforglobalfoodmanufacturers,theyarenotresponsible fortheactiveenforcementoffoodsafetylaws. Every nationdefinesandestablishesitsownlawsandenforcementpracticesforfood safetyregulationandtheseregulationsmayvaryfromcountrytocountry,and domesticallyfromregiontoregion.Bringingafoodproducttoaforeignmarket requirescompliancewiththefoodsafetyandconsumerprotectionlawsofthat nationanditsregionalgovernmentalauthorities. Generallyspeaking, internationalfoodsafetystandardsaredesignedtofacilitatecompliancewith foodsafetylawsinmajormarkets,simplifyingtheprocessofreceiving approvalfromforeigngovernmentalregulators.   Thehistoryoffoodsafety Foodborne illnesshasthreatenedhumanhealthsincethedawnoftime.Infact,manyfood preparationmethodswestillusetoday,suchascooking,canning,smokingand fermentation,canbeunderstoodasprimitivefoodsafetymeasures,developedas ameansofkeepingpeoplefromgettingsick. Today,we benefitfromcenturiesofscientificandtechnologicalprogressthathavemade anabundanceofsafefoodanddrinkproductssomethingthatmanyofustakefor granted.Buttheconceptoffoodsafetyasweknowittoday,andtherigorwith whichitisenforced,isarelativelynewdevelopmentinhumanhistorythatis intimatelytiedtochangesinthewayweliveandeat. In1905, AmericanauthorUptonSinclairpublishedhisnovelTheJungle,whichfeatured horrificdepictionsofChicago’smeatpackingindustry.Theensuingpublic outrageledtheU.S.governmenttopasstheMeatInspectionActthefollowing year,establishingthefirstsanitarystandardsforslaughteringand butchering.Thislawmarkedthefirsttimethatfoodprocessingfacilitieswere subjecttoregularauditsandinspectionsbygovernmentalauthoritiesandsome oftheveryfirstlawsforfoodsafetyinmanufacturing. Across EuropeandNorthAmerica,theindustrialrevolutionusheredinthe establishmentofmanyregulatorybodiesandfoundationallawsconcerningfood safetyandinspection.Asfoodproductionbecameincreasinglymechanisedand profitincentivesclimbed,lawswerepassedtopreventtheintentionalsaleof foodproductsthatweremisbranded,contaminated,orotherwisetamperedwith.It wasduringthiserathatingredientsandadditivesbecamesubjectto regulation. Inthedecades followingWorldWarII,electricrefrigeratorsenteredmiddleclasshomes acrossEuropeandNorthAmerica,changingthewaythateverydaypeople purchasedandstoredfood.Theeraofhomerefrigerationsparkedtherapid expansionofindustrialfoodproduction,aswellasagrowingneedforstricter foodregulations.ItwasinthischangingfoodlandscapethatMarsIncorporated becamethefirstmajorfoodmanufacturertoinstallmetaldetectorsintheir facilitiesin1947. Theshift fromreactivetoproactivefoodsafetyprinciplesbeganwhenHACCPwasbornin 1959.Recognisingthattestingfinishedproductswasnotaneffectivemeansof ensuringfoodqualityandsafety,scientistsatNASAcollaboratedwiththe PillsburyCompany,anAmericanmanufacturerofbakedgoodsandbakingmixes,to createarisk-basedsystemthatidentified“criticalfailureareas”in productionthatposedhealthrisks.WithPillsburyleadingtheway,thissystem ofhazardanalysisandcontrolwasadoptedbyanumberofleadingfood manufacturersintheUnitedStates. Bythemid-1980s, scientistsaroundtheworldagreedthattheproactivenatureofHACCPprovided amoreeffectivemeansofcontrollingforfoodsafetyhazardsthantraditional inspectionmethods.Thefollowingdecadessawtheestablishmentof internationalregulatorybodiesandthird-partyauditfirmsdesignedto implementandenforcepreventativecomplianceinanincreasinglyglobalised foodindustry.Itisuponthisgroundworkthatmodernfoodsafetyregulationsand practicesarebuilt. Thesevenprinciplesofasafefoodsupplychain WhileHACCPlaysoutthestepsnecessarytoproactivelyensurefood qualitysafetyinindividualfoodproductionenvironments,ahealthysupply chainalsodemandsactiononacollectivelevel.TheEuropeanUnionidentifiessevenoverarching foodsafetyprinciplesnecessaryfortheentirefoodsupplychaintooperateforthepublic good.   Corporateresponsibility–Everycompanyinvolvedinthefoodsupplychainisrequiredtodo theirduediligencetoensurethequalityandsafetyofafoodproductwithin theboundsoftheirresponsibility.Thisincludesimplementingin-house controlsaccordingtoHACCP.Inaddition,corporationsassumeliabilityforany damagestheirproductsmaycause. Traceability–AllfoodbusinessoperatorsintheEUareresponsiblefordocumenting wheretheirmaterialsaresourcedandwheretheyaresent.Thisdocumentation helpsregulatorybodiesquicklyidentifythesourceofcontaminationshoulda recallbecomenecessary. Officialfoodcontrols–Governmentalauthoritieswithinthefederalstatesareresponsible forenforcingEUfoodlawrequirementsthroughrisk-orientedreviews,targeted samplecollectionandregularinspections. Theprecautionaryprinciple–Competentauthoritiesarepermittedtotakeprecautionarymeasuresif theybelievetheeffectwillminimisefoodsafetyrisks.Theseprecautionary measureswillbereviewedonanongoingbasisasscientificdatabecomes available. Independentscientificriskassessment–Agovernmental institutionthatoperatesindependentlyofpolitical,socialandeconomic influencesisresponsibleforscientificallyinvestigatingandassessingthe risksthatfoodproductsmayposetohumanhealth.IntheEU,thisinstitution isknownastheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority. Separationofriskassessmentandriskmanagement–Duetopossible conflictsofinterest,acleardistinctionismadebetweenthoseresponsible forscientificriskassessmentandthoseresponsibleforriskmanagement. Transparentriskcommunication–Thepublicmustbe promptlyinformedofimminentandpotentialfoodsafetyhazards.Circulating informationaboutfoodsafetyproblemsisonlypossibleifscientists,policymakers andfoodbusinessoperatorscommunicatetransparently.   Theimportanceoffoodsafetyandtheconsequencesofnon-compliance Foodsafetyishighlyimportantbothfinanciallyandethically.The consequencesoffailingtocomplywithfoodsafetystandardsaremanifold.In additiontobeingincrediblycostlyforcompanieswhomustrecalltheir products,overhaultheirprocessesandmanagethepublicrelationscrisis, inadequatefoodsafetyinmanufacturingcarriesasignificanthumancost. Thecostoffoodrecallsforcompanies Failingto implementaneffectivefoodsafetyprotocolcanleadtocontaminatedproducts enteringthefoodchain.Oncethedefectiveproducthasbeendiscovered,food businessesaresubjecttodramaticdisruptionsintheiroperationsasthey manageandassumethecostforproductrecalls. Foodrecallscost companiesanaverageof$10millionUSDindirect,immediately measurablecostsalone.Butthelong-termeffectthataproductrecallcanhave onconsumertrustisperhapsevenmorecostly.Some21percentofconsumerssaytheywouldnever againpurchaseanythingfrommanufacturerwhohadtorecalloneoftheirfood products.  Thehumancostofunsafefood The importanceoffoodsafetytomodernhumanlifewouldbedifficultto understate.Foodsafetyproblemsarealeadingcauseofmorethan200 preventablediseasesworldwide.Eachyear,oneintenpeoplewillsufferfrom foodborneillnessorinjury.Anestimated420,000peopledieeveryyearasa resultofeatingcontaminatedfoodandmorethanaquarterofthesevictimsare smallchildren. Inadditiontothe immediatehumancost,inadequatefoodsafetycomeswithagreaterrippleeffect thatimpedessocioeconomicprogress,especiallyinthedevelopingworld.The WorldHealthOrganisationstatesthatfoodsafety,nutritionandfood securityareinextricablylinked.Alackofsafefood createsa“viciouscycleofdiseaseandmalnutrition”whichoverburdenspublic healthservices,disruptssocialandeconomicprogressanddetractsfromthe qualityoflife.   AboutSesotec Formore than40years,Sesotechasbeenamarketleaderinthefieldofcontaminant removalandsortingtechnology.Wedevelopbothstandardisedandcustomised foodsafetysolutionsforfoodandbeveragemanufacturersaroundtheworld. WhitePaper-Fivetipstooptimisemetaldetectorperformance Metaldetectorsareanimportantcomponentofafunctioningfoodsafetyconcept.Youalreadyhaveametaldetectorinuse?Thenreadour5tipstoensuretheoptimumperformanceofyourmetaldetectoroverthelongterm.getfreeWhitePaper FoodSafety ModernX-rayequipmentsoftwareforbetterdetection,efficiencyandcompliance Clickheretoreadthestory FoodSafety 6PrioritiestoEvaluatewhenChoosingaFoodX-RaySystem Clickheretoreadthestory FoodSafety Sesotecx-rayinspectionreachesnewlevels Clickheretoreadthestory FoodSafety Foodsafetyaudits:whattoexpectwhenpursuingcertification Clickheretoreadthestory FoodSafety Hygienicdesignanditsroleincertifiedfoodsafetymanagement Clickheretoreadthestory FoodSafety FoodtraceabilityintheeraofIndustry4.0 Clickheretoreadthestory 1 2 3 form_thank_you_message_bewerbung_praktikum Pleaseselectyourcountry Theselectionofyourcountryallowsustooffertheoptimalcontentforyou. 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