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During the packaging stage of the food production cycle, there are several factors that, if not handled appropriately, could lead to undeclared allergens in the marketplace. What areas should you look out for? What are some best practices to ensure safe and successful entry into the marketplace - with all allergens declared and accounted for?
Another critical point in the food production process that, if not handled properly, could lead to undeclared allergens in the marketplace is at receiving. The receiving component is critical to ensure that accurate labels are coming into the warehouse. What makes it so critical? What is a best practice that receiving personnel can employ to minimize risk?
Undeclared allergens can wreak havoc on a food manufacturer's reputation. Not only can these undeclared allergens pose a life-threatening risk to the public, but the resulting Class I recall can tarnish the food maker's reputation - temporarily or permanently depending on the severity and frequency. One potential point of failure that could lead to undeclared allergens making it to the marketplace happens in purchasing.
Undeclared allergens were responsible for the greatest number of recalls in the United States in 2013, causing significant consumer health issues, scrap costs, and sourcing conundrums. What leads to undeclared allergens?
Throughout the food industry, most, if not all, scorecarding of suppliers is driven by the constraints of purchasing and cost accounting systems. Supplier scorecarding provides valuable insight into the quality and reliability of a supplier and their product. Rating and ranking suppliers based on business-critical key performance indicators (KPIs) allows food manufacturers to understand how individual suppliers affect the company’s product quality, risk, compliance, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance.
