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The Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 (pronounced “fiz-muh”) requires that breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to keep consumers safe. This may seem like a daunting task for breweries that are just getting started or have a small staff. The regs were originally designed for food manufacturers until the FDA deemed beer “food” in 2011. As of September 2018, all breweries - regardless of size - must comply. It can b …

Safety directors are constantly striving to reduce hazards in food processing plants. These facilities often require specialized cutters to cut open ingredient bags, boxes, strapping / banding, netting, tape, and plastic wrap during the manufacturing and packaging process. Workplace lacerations threaten user safety, can lead to loss of productivity and/or contamination of the food prep areas. Additionally, food manufacturers have to mitigate the risk of foreign object contamination should a …

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting normal operations for countless food and beverage manufacturers. Limited staff from illness, layoffs or social distancing requirements, additional sanitation requirements, changes in the level of production (up or down), and even facility shutdown have resulted in fewer resources and less focus on food safety sanitation. Manufacturers have a legal obligation to produce safe food and it is therefore essential that routine sanitation practices c …

If you follow FDA recalls , the words “possible foreign matter contamination” are a very common (almost weekly) cause. Put simply, it refers to any extraneous matter, whether physical, chemical or biological, found in food. And remember, food includes beverages, bottled water and nutritional products. Typically, the foreign bodies render the food unfit for human (or pet) consumption. Recalls can be very costly for food manufacturers. Indirect costs of potential fines, lawsuits, s …

The threat of emerging infectious diseases, pandemic influenza, and viral respiratory illnesses has highlighted the need to protect healthcare workers and patients. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a critical safeguard in protecting against infectious agents, especially blood borne pathogens. PPE includes gowns, lab coats, gloves, eye protection, masks / face shields and head / shoe coverings. OSHA mandates using precautions such as PPE during the treatment of patients to prevent the …