Month: July 2017

Supply Chain

How One Company Achieved Supply Chain Goals Using QualMap

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When a large food service company approached Mérieux Nutrisciences in the summer of 2016 needing to improve their business processes by better understanding the data that was compromising their supply chain, Jennifer Derryberry, a Product Manager for the company, quickly stepped up to help the company find a solution.

Mérieux NutriSciences is a global food safety and quality staple that has been offering testing, labeling, auditing, consulting, sensory, training and research services to the food industry for over 50 years. Focused on customer satisfaction, the company aims to protect consumers’ health through nutritional research, scientific excellence and innovation. Continue Reading

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Dairy FSMA

Technical Tuesday: The Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) Adopts Preventive Controls Rule, FSMA Regulations

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In May, the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) voted Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) as part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) into the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO). The PMO sets forth standards and requirements to regulate dairy plants producing Grade “A” products. This includes milk, fluid cream products, sour cream, yogurt, manufactured products, such as cottage cheese and dry ingredients. Continue Reading

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Environmental Monitoring

What is a Swabathon?: Understanding the FDA Investigations

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The top priority for most food manufacturers is protecting the food consumers eat. Yet, one of the major causes of product recalls in the food industry is product contamination in the processing environment by pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. These pathogens take up residence within the structure of food plants and within the processing equipment itself. Once it makes a home there, it can contaminate the food products it comes into contact with as they make their way through the production process. Continue Reading

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Food Manufacturing Food Safety

Technical Tuesday: The Importance of Using Valid Sampling Plans

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The Food Safety Modernization Act has introduced many new food safety requirements to the food industry. In particular, FSMA places a focus on performing a hazard analysis and using preventive measures in food manufacturing. The requirement to develop and implement supplier preventive controls for raw materials and ingredients to address hazards has renewed interest in methods for sampling and testing raw materials. In order for sampling and testing to be used to address pathogen concerns identified in the hazard analysis of raw materials, a valid sampling plan must be in place. Continue Reading

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Regulatory Update

Regulatory Round-Up: The Seventh Year of FSMA – Are We There Yet?

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With summer vacation season upon us, most people can relate to the angst of the question, “Are we there yet?”  In fact, I suspect many food industry professionals have recently pondered this question when reflecting on the regulations of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and then wondered what is “coming down the pike?”

Upon enactment of the FSMA law in January 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented a few requirements immediately, but the most significant rules require years to develop.  The implementation phase of the FSMA regulations officially began two years ago with the beginning of Phase II of the FDA’s operational strategy for FSMA, which included regulator training and targeted risk-based inspection, sampling, testing and data collection activities. Continue Reading

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