The link between digitalisation and maintaining food safety
Food safety has never been subject to more scrutiny than now . According to the World Health Organisation ( WHO ), an estimated 600 million people fall ill each year after eating contaminated food . In the UK , contamination and allergen issues are the biggest cause of food recalls , showing a lot still needs to be done to improve around maintaining food safety .
So , how can manufacturers ensure they follow best practices in ensuring our food is safe ?
Managing risks
If we look at the production of processed food products on a large commercial scale , there is generally good practice in most factories .
The food and beverage industry has been slower to adopt a formal regulatory framework than industries such as pharmaceuticals , for example . If we look at global trends , the tendency is to hold suppliers responsible for all aspects of the supply chain , in the case of ‘ from farm to fork ’. Even the best-managed factory depends on the quality of its raw materials . But sometimes processes can be interfered with , making vigilance along the supply chain as important as inside the processing plant .
Around the world , most food safety regimes rely on a Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points ( HACCP ) methodology . This requires a supplier to evaluate risk areas in the production and supply chain and ensures measurements and tests at critical points detect problems before the product is shipped . For example , if a sterilisation process is required , a record of temperature against time must be maintained and reviewed before shipment . And with this comes an increasing focus on prevention rather than detection .
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Digitised data is easily transmitted from place to place and may be backed up without compromising integrity
Keeping ahead of audits
Food safety management systems are multifaceted , making them complex . They will incorporate everything from hygiene and plant organisation through to maintaining records of production parameters and equipment calibration , as well as the traceability of batches in case a product is recalled .
As a result , facilities will obtain a huge quantity of data each week . But for a long time , the industry has relied on manual ways of data logging and monitoring , usually involving paper . Yet , the experience of other regulated industries is that however attractive paper might seem , digital records will always come out on top . Particularly in the case of audits by the governing regulator .
Take for example , the logging of refrigeration temperature . Good manufacturing practices ( GMP ) require reliable record-keeping to demonstrate that air temperatures , pack temperatures and door open and closed signals are kept within certain parameters . This is extremely important to prove that safety criteria for refrigeration during food storage and processing has been monitored and adhered to .
Digitalising records
Keeping paper records onsite without any possibility of backup is problematic in any case . For example , documents can be falsified , particularly if operators at various process steps record temperature readings in handwriting .
The solution is the digitisation of data , as well as the automated recording of process data around critical control points . Digitised data is easily transmitted from place to place and may be backed up without compromising integrity . It also creates a ‘ digital thread ’ running from ‘ farm to fork ’ that provides suppliers with instant access to critical data for audit and for internal quality check tests .
Producers seeking to implement digital data logging can opt for a system like the F4T ® temperature controller , which has data logging built in . With these options , users can record pre-set data , cutting down on setup time and hassle . Watlow ’ s tools also include a list of common setups to help producers find the best way to log data that fits their needs , making implementation as easy as possible .
Food safety should be the first concern of any responsible supplier , but with over half a billion people falling ill each year to the food they consume , it ’ s clear there is room for improvement . The industry must rid itself of all manual and paper processes , and instead implement digital solutions that are reliable , more efficient and make tracking food through the supply chain easier to monitor .
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