FDA Food Safety Regulations
FDA Food Safety Regulations
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There were hundreds of food safety recalls in 2014; from boneless chicken breasts to canned soup to ice cream. That is not a phone call anyone in our industry wants to receive.
It undoubtedly means damage to product, reputations, bottom-lines, and gut-wrenchingly more critical – it could also cost lives. The latest recall of cucumbers from a California-based company affected citizens in 30 states and is linked to two deaths, and while the outbreak of listeria-tainted ice cream was contained to only four states, it still resulted in 3 deaths and the shut-down of operations from April to September of this year.
It’s no surprise that the FDA has tightened in with new regulations impacting the entire supply chain, including:
- Identification of hazards in manufacturing
- Development of measures to reduce the risk of contamination
- Implementation of methods to verify that the controls are working
The FDA will phase in the new rules over time, beginning in September 2016 for larger food manufacturers. Smaller companies will have longer to comply with the regulations. All of the rules should be in place by late summer 2018.
Efficient handling, storage and tracking of dated food items is a critical first step to ensuring food safety and FDA compliance. There are a number of sophisticated, cost-effective, automated systems and warehouse management software (WMS) tools available to get the job done.
For more information on these new regulations please visit the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov.
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