Despite all the food safety advances in sanitary machine design, sanitary plant design, product testing and inspection, and many processors reexamining their current SSOPs, HACCP plans and FSMA preparation and adherence, there is still much work to be done to protect the food supply and to inform consumers of potential problems.
ConAgra pleaded guilty to introducing Peter Pan and private-label peanut butter contaminated with Salmonella into interstate commerce during the 2006 through 2007 outbreak.
Whether it is a loose screw that falls off a machine, a bone that manages to stay wedged in a piece of meat or a bit of plastic that finds its way into a batch, contamination in a finished product can be a major blow to a brand.
As a kid growing up on a poultry farm, I couldn’t wait to help my dad truck cases of eggs to the local co-op, but I confess to an ulterior motive—hitting the candy machine just inside the door for a SNICKERS bar.
While regulators creep closer toward adopting parts of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) has taken center stage as food and beverage manufacturers seek the best ways to stay compliant, avoid costly recalls and provide an easier audit experience.