The SQF certification program can help facilities comply with crucial hygiene and sanitation requirements, as there is an enhanced focus in preventing, eliminating, and significantly minimizing food safety hazards of public health and legal significance. This whitepaper explores the notable contributions of SQF Edition 8 as a global standard, toward developing, implementing, and maintaining sanitation controls and hygiene practices within food and beverage processing sites.
Cleaning is a critical step in the management of food safety. Consequently, the correct selection of cleaning equipment by the food manufacturing and food service industries is essential to minimize the risk of product contamination, and aid compliance to relevant regulatory, guidance and standard requirements.
To ensure the safety and quality of our food supply, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforces a set of Current food Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) published in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 110 (21 CFR 110). These CGMPs describe the methods, equipment, facilities, and controls for producing processed food. As the minimum sanitary and processing requirements for producing safe and wholesome food, they are an important part of regulatory control over the safety of the nation’s food supply. CGMPs also serve as one basis for FDA inspections.
A HACCP plan, although not required for all food processors, is a great foundation for any food safety program and can help to mitigate the risk from biological, allergen, and physical hazards. Building a HACCP plan provides assurance to customers and food safety agencies that appropriate measures are being taken in a facility to ensure the safe production of food products.
With the signing of the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) in 2011, many food processors are taking proactive steps by instituting color-coding as part of their Good Manufacturing Practices. But in examining the intent of the HACCP procedures, one can easily see how other types of processing facilities could also benefit from color-coding systems. This white paper will help you understand how color-coding is used for a variety of purposes. Don’t wait—it can help you make the decision about applying color-coding in your operation!