When your business is in the food processing and manufacturing industry, food safety and food hygiene are your top priority. You need a safe and hygienic workplace. You need to comply with food and safety standards. This is to ensure that your products are safe to eat and won’t cause outbreaks of foodborne diseases. To ensure food safety and hygiene in your business, make sure to observe the following guidelines:
Think about the location and design of your facilities
When choosing a location, make sure that it is not near areas known to be pest hot spots. Make sure that the area surrounding the facility is not susceptible to pollution to avoid contamination. The design of your facilities needs to meet the standards. The building should be in tip-top condition and has to be easy to clean, effortless to maintain, and safe for everyone working inside the facility,
Choose and set up your machinery and production lines
When it comes to your tools, materials, and equipment, choose one that conforms with food and safety standards. You can find filling machines and equipment that are built to last, of top quality, and easy to maintain. Carefully design your machinery and production line to ensure smooth and easy flow of production.
Clean and disinfect regularly
One cannot stress just how important it is to keep the workplace clean. Make sure to regularly clean not only your machinery and equipment but also the whole facility after every use.
Enforce strict personal hygiene through training
Training your employees doesn’t stop after teaching them how to operate and clean the machines properly. One also needs to make sure that they learn food safety practices and strict personal hygiene to prevent contamination. All workers must exercise proper handwashing, wear clean clothes, wear suitable protective clothing, and learn proper food handling. No ill staff should be allowed to work to avoid cross-contamination.
Proper handling, transport, and storage
Workers need to be trained in proper handling, transport, and storage to prevent products from being contaminated. Consider the temperature humidity and the cleanliness of the facility, containers, packaging, and vehicles. Avoid the deterioration of food products by regulating the right temperature for cold and hot produce.
Establish regular maintenance of machinery and equipment
Your machinery and equipment are an expensive investment. For them to work efficiently and last long, observe regular maintenance and necessary repair. Doing so also helps ensure the safe production of food from start to finish.
Observe proper waste management
Food processing and manufacturing businesses need to observe proper waste management. Train your workers to regularly and properly dispose of waste. Provide suitable storage containers and areas for all kinds of waste produced.
Invest in pest control monitoring and detection
You wouldn’t want flies, rats, and cockroaches to make a home inside your facility as this is a perfect way to contaminate your production. Some pests can also damage your tools, machinery, fixtures, and the building itself. Make sure to include pest control in your list as this is also in compliance with food safety standards.
You must provide customers with products that are not only of high quality but are also safe to consume. With this shortlist, you can ensure that your food products are safe to eat and won’t cause any food safety issues.
