Food Testing Laboratory Services in Food Production Industry

 

Today, in the food manufacturing industry, it is widely accepted that a Food Safety/Food Quality Management System is the primary tool utilized to support business survival via risk abatement analysis and successful growth for the long term.  Astute food producers rely on their food testing laboratory partner to document that food safety and food quality specifications are met or exceeded. The food industry is constantly searching for and implementing best industry practices which have continually raised the bar for performance.  The basic prerequisites can be simplified by breaking the management system down to the major components. 

 

Starting with the basics is a rock-solid Good Manufacturing Practices – GMP program.  GMPs as defined in 21CFR117, are laws enforced by the US Food and Drug Administration.  GMPs are the “blocking and tackling” fundamentals. They include regulations covering the following: personnel, plant and grounds, sanitary operations, sanitary facilities and controls, equipment and utensils, processes and controls, warehousing and distribution, holding and distribution of human food by-products for use as animal food and defect action levels. (please see our blog posted on July 19, 2018, for additional details regarding Defect Action Levels-Sanitation Analysis).

 

The natural progression of continuous improvement for the food manufacturers lead to the incorporation of HACCP programs – Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points.

 

HACCP is a management system designed to ensure that all food safety production is operated according to the Codex Alimentarius International Food Standards. The objective of the HACCP system is to prove that products are properly manufactured for the health and safety of consumers by avoiding three hazard sources: Biological hazards, Chemical hazards and Physical hazards. The application of a HACCP system is based on technical and scientific principles used to evaluate hazards and collect data for analysis. With this information, a plan can be devised to avoid problems and to monitor and solve issues that do occur, while continuously verifying the performance of the system.  Validations and verifications of HACCP plan compliance will routinely incorporate reports of analysis from a food testing laboratory.  Great Plains Analytical Laboratory stands ready to assist our clients with HACCP plan development.

 

The continuous improvement progression is raising the bar for food manufactures with the implementation of the Global Food Safety Initiative – GFSI. The GFSI maintains a scheme to benchmark food safety standards for manufacturers as well as farm assurance standards.  Due to complex challenges in today’s food supply chain, many of the world’s largest food retailers are mandating supplier certification to Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) schemes, which include SQF, BRC, IFS, PrimusGFS, FSSC, GLOBALG.A.P. and BAP and Canada GAP.  GFSI schemes may require 3rd party food testing laboratory analyses for documentation of compliance.

 

For food and feed manufacturers in the United States, the FDA has and continues to roll out and implement a new law – Food Safety Modernization Act.  The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law by on January 4, 2011. The FSMA has given the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities to regulate the way foods are grown, harvested and processed.  

 

For the first time, the FDA will have a legislative mandate to require comprehensive, science-based preventive controls across the food supply, including pet food and animal feed. 

 

Food facilities are required to implement a written Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls (HARPC) plan. This involves: (1) evaluating the hazards that could affect food safety, (2) specifying what preventive steps, or controls, will be put in place to significantly minimize or prevent the hazards, (3) specifying how the facility will monitor these controls to ensure they are working, (4) maintaining routine records of the monitoring, and (5) specifying what actions the facility will take to correct problems that arise. Animal food manufacturers must implement GMPs and Preventive Controls. The vast majority of food manufacturers partner with food testing laboratories for demonstrating proactive compliance to regulatory agencies and their customers.   

 

Great Plains Analytical Laboratory is your go-to source for assistance in meeting the ever-evolving business and regulatory environment regarding Food Safety and Food Quality analytical testing needs.  As the above information indicates that there is no such thing as “status quo” with respect to ensuring your products deliver the quality and safety your customers demand. Our customers rely on our services to proactively demonstrate their commitment to promoting a culture of food safety.