Food Manufacturing Guest Contributors

  1. Ensuring Confidence In GFSI: Maintaining Value And Credibility Of Benchmarked Schemes 3/14/2017

    In early March, I had the opportunity to sit on a panel discussion with several GFSI stakeholders, representing all aspects of the GFSI certification process. Moderated by Neil Marshall, global director of quality & safety strategy policy and programs at Coca-Cola; and Chris Lomauro, quality manager at General Mills, our conversation rotated around this scenario: a brand owner found an issue with a supplier who has been previously audited and certified to a GFSI benchmarked program.

  2. Why Supply Chain Agility Is Essential For Food Manufacturers 3/10/2017

    For years, the food industry has listened to predictions about the growth of online grocery shopping, but was hesitant to prepare for the unknown. Now, through innovative delivery and supply chain models, the industry is more capable of responding to consumers’ growing set of complex demands, such as e-commerce.

  3. Debunking 5 FSVP Myths 3/6/2017

    Compared to the training requirements in the Preventive Controls Rule, and certainly in the Produce Safety Rule, the requirement — or even mere suggestion — that someone take a course in order to be able to comply with the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) Rule is non-existent. Why then, has every FSVP training course I’ve taught been sold out?

  4. How FSMA Is Changing Hazard Analysis 3/1/2017

    Now that FSMA implementation has begun, there are several questions on what are the best approaches to develop risk-based food safety plans with preventive controls for compliance with these new regulations. Several terms have been clarified by FSMA, including the definition of a food facility. The actual definition of “hazard,” which is quite a technical definition, has also been expanded with these new regulations.

  5. 2017's Top Refrigerated Food & Beverage Trends 2/28/2017

    To understand why food and flavor trends are born, or step into the spotlight in any given year, it is important to understand their surrounding couriers and influencers. A courier acts to shuttle a trend in from a neighboring focus, while an influencer can be seen as an ally to a trend. For the coming year, I have examined food and beverage drivers for patterns.

  6. U.S. & Canadian Food Imports/Exports: What You Need To Know 2/22/2017

    With FSMA, and accompanying rules, now finalized, the countdown to enforcement is on. In order to make food available to consumers in the U.S. market, it is important to ensure food is exported according to applicable laws.

  7. New Nutrition Labels: Challenges, Uncertainties, And Opportunities 2/7/2017

    Many stakeholders - raw ingredient suppliers, nutrition labeling software vendors, graphics design and packaging companies, food manufacturers, and private label brand owners - are involved in implementing the new nutrition label requirements. For a successful implementation, it is imperative these stakeholders develop a comprehensive knowledge of the new requirements.

  8. Time To Update Your Listeria Playbook: The FDA's Draft Guidance Is Making Waves 1/31/2017

    The FDA recently released draft guidance (the “Guidance”) on controlling Listeria monocytogenes (LM) and ready-to-eat foods (RTE) in conjunction with the final rule, Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF rule). Any FDA-regulated facility that manufacturers, processes, packs, or holds RTE foods needs to take the time to read this new draft Guidance. Why?  For three reasons. First, as we all know, draft guidance can often take years before it turns to final guidance, and in the interim, FDA inspectors still rely on it as gospel. Second, whether it’s considered draft or final by the FDA, we all know the reality is guidance is often treated like directive, which in turn is often treated just like regulation. If we don’t follow it, we have a lot of explaining to do. Third, there are a few waves contained in this guidance that we, as an industry, all need to be aware of now!

  9. A Food Recall's Ripple Effect: What We've Learned From Valley Milk Products 1/24/2017

    The Valley Milk Products recall resulted in a subsequent ripple effect of recalls affecting over 30 companies. As this food safety event has played out over the last several months, it has also raised several questions on how the industry should react and handle these types of chain-reaction-like recalls.

  10. How 5 Electro-Magnetic Technologies Are Heating Foods Safely, Quickly, And Efficiently 1/10/2017

    Five innovative heating techniques, including infrared (IR), microwave (MW), dielectric or radio-frequency (RF), ohmic (OH), and magnetic induction heating (MI) utilize electro-magnetic energy and can heat foods faster and more efficiently.