FDA Unveils Blueprint for New Era of Smarter Food Safety
According to Food Safety Tech, the FDA believes this “blueprint is a commitment to American consumers that the agency will work as fast and effectively as possible to provide the ‘safest food system in the world.” The plan is divided into four key elements, tech-enabled traceability, smarter tools and approaches for prevention and outbreak response, new business models and modernization, and food safety culture.
Some Pointers on Choosing Metal Detection Systems to Keep Food Safe from Adulteration
According to Food Safety Strategies, “it has often been said that you can’t inspect quality into a product, but “in the food and beverage industry, your product quality—and safety—has far more personal ramifications than, say, a newly designed phone or network switch. Some pointers when looking into purchasing an inspection system include contaminant detection: choose a kit that reflects the risk, select inspection equipment with inbuilt record-keeping capabilities, check that metal detection systems are failsafe, and minimize false rejections.
FDA Inspections of Small Businesses under the FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule to Begin March 2021
Food Safety Magazine reported that Small Businesses will now undergo routine inspections starting in 2021. The rule for inspections states that “food facilities covered by the rule are required to develop and implement a food defense plan that identifies vulnerabilities and puts in place mitigation strategies to address those vulnerabilities.” Inspections will consist of “quick checks” which allow the “FDA to verify that the facility has satisfied the basic requirements of the rule while also providing us with an opportunity to ‘educate while we regulate.’ During the “quick check” FDA investigators will ask the owner or operator of the facility a series of questions such as ‘do you have a food defense plan?’ and may provide some educational materials.”
Food Quality Plans Help Meet Demand, Maintain Quality Certifications
According to Food Engineering, food safety and food quality standards go hand in hand. A brand’s reputation is dependent on a low number of recalls and a high-quality rating. “Like HACCP for a food safety plan, a food quality plan follows similar methodologies to help ensure that food processors are meeting their own companies’ quality specifications, as well as their customers’ expectations.”
