If you are in the food & beverage business, you know that your reputation is one of the most valuable assets you have. And any harm to your reputation affects your credibility as a quality food producer and any damage in this area can have far-reaching effects. One of the elements that any food manufacturer needs to be aware of is the listing of ingredients in their product, and explicitly calling out is allergens.
In the last year alone, there have been 382 known food product-related recalls, and we are sure that a substantial number of them could be related to non-declaration of allergens. As per Food Safety Magazine, as many as 160 were related to undeclared allergens.
The question here is that how can a food manufacturing solution help you in track allergens? A food process manufacturing solution would include the following features or functionalities:
Recipe management: The recipe management feature is critical when it comes to keeping track of the ingredients, which is vital for listing out contents and thereby allergens. The solution can help you manage single as well as multi-level recipes with the list of ingredients, the process you follow, the proportions, special instructions, and other details. You can also use the solution to manage the costs of the product and by-products if any.
Quick planner: Though this feature does not directly relate to allergen management, it can help indirectly by providing updates on the demand and supply of finished goods. This way, you can plan for the next production batch and ensure that the food is shipped out well within accepted time limits. You can ensure that allergies are not triggered when certain ingredients age.
Batch production management: We all know that the demands for food items vary according to many factors, which is why it is essential to manage the batch production aspect. The batch production functionality will help you calculate demand based on orders received. You can also keep track batches with visual sequencing, maximize the use of equipment without affecting quality, and ensure that you have backward and forward traceability.
Production recording: This functionality allows you to keep a record of all the data around production. With this feature, you can track raw materials, packaging details, and all the other details around the product. Not only does this help you manage the allocation of materials for production but is also an excellent way to keep track of the production process and thereby the quality.
While the food and beverage industry mostly promise a steady flow of demand, it is also one where having quality is the most critical factor. Allergen management is one of the main aspects that will also add to the quality, and a good food process manufacturing solution is the way to go.
Learn how our Food Process Manufacturing solution can help with allergen management.
Renaldo Torcque
