Safety First, Flavour Always: Insider Secrets for Food Safety Success
In the world of food, taste comes first, but it is not all that matters. With the rapid urbanization and food habits of people, it becomes crucial for food businesses to be obliged to meet the demands of the people, introducing new recipes and dishes while at the same time maintaining hygiene and cleanliness while providing high-quality food to the consumers.
Knowing the risks and the importance of food safety
Food safety practices are of utmost importance, as they keep a check on whether the food products that we are indulging in are safe for consumption. Adhering to food safety standards helps in the prevention of foodborne illness. While handling foods, there may be physical, chemical, or biological contamination that may cause foodborne illness. Hence, following food hygiene and safety protocols prevents such outbreaks. Thus, it becomes necessary to maintain food hygiene at every step.
Safe Handling: From Prep to Plate
Before the food is placed on our plates, it goes through a cycle of processes from raw material sourcing to the end product, or, as we say, prep to plate.
- Raw Material Procurement: Sourcing and obtaining raw materials from the right source and to the correct standards is the first step in maintaining food quality, and contamination at this stage may hamper the entire process. At this stage, keeping the ingredients fresh through temperature control and proper storage becomes necessary.
- Pre-processing: To convert those raw materials into delicious food, more ingredients are added, and the food goes through various operations like frying, baking, or cooking. Safe cooking and then storing at the right temperature is crucial at this stage, as the food, if not cooked and then stored properly, may become contaminated by the food pathogens and become unfit for consumption.
- Processing: Food is either consumed fresh or packed for later use. To make the food package ready, it undergoes food processing operations like blanching, sterilization, heating, etc. At this stage, human error can cause contamination; hence, maintaining proper personal hygiene and following safety protocols becomes crucial.
- Packaging: If the packaging is not sterilised and contaminants come into contact with the finished product, then the food quality declines and the packaged food may become unsafe for consumption.
- Logistics: At this last stage of the cycle of farm to fork, any unforeseen circumstances like leakage, breakage, or improper handling may lead to food contamination. When this happens, the food needs to be recalled at this stage.
Comprehending Regulations Related to Food Safety
It is the food regulatory bodies that are responsible for establishing food safety standards and addressing concerns about food safety. In India, FSSAI establishes rules and regulations to maintain food quality. It gives guidelines on food processing and food testing and also maintains standards for the permissible limit of pollutants in food.
Food companies and retail food businesses have to follow these standards to ensure high-quality food is delivered to consumers. In addition to FSSAI, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) together help in keeping check on the food safety protocols.
Cultivating a Culture of Safety
Even with all the advancements and automation in the food industry, one cannot work without manual labour. At one point in time during the entire cycle of farm to plate, the food comes into contact with human hands, whether while cooking in kitchens or handling raw materials or finished goods in commercial food factories; hence, training the workers with basic hygiene practices helps in the long run.
The food business operators should train their personnel and make them aware of personal hygiene and safety protocols like washing hands before entering the processing area, wearing gloves and caps while working near the food items, and GMP and GHP. The working personnel should be aware of cross-contamination and the hazard control measures on the food processing premises.
At both the commercial and retail levels, food businesses must have a proper food safety management system, either ISO or HACCP, so that in case of any crisis or hazard, the team knows the safety drills. It is the responsibility of the food business owner to provide adequate training to the staff and ensure they have proper Food Safety certification, keeping them up-to-date with the best hygiene practices.
There should be a proper food safety management system in place, and the person in charge, or, as we say, the food safety officer, must lead, conceptualize, and implement the FSMS. This person is responsible for supervising and monitoring the personnel during operations. Regular Food Safety audits and food inspections help ensure that these guidelines are properly followed. The food safety officer is also responsible for issuing notice and taking corrective action for the complaints received about a food product. They are also responsible for conducting basic safety training for employees and raising awareness of the recall system in case of a hazard or food contamination.
Conclusion
With the big boom in the Indian food industry, it becomes imperative to maintain food safety for the country’s economy and nutrition security. But the main challenge is the lack of information and clarity among the food business operators and their lack of awareness about food hygiene protocols and safety standards. Hence, it is best for them to hire experienced professionals like food business consultants who are well-versed in these protocols, and they can also train about food safety protocols and develop the skills in their staff so their business provides the highest quality food to the customers. Because when it comes to safety, there is no compromise safety first and then flavour.
In this context, leveraging the expertise of Tech4Serve Project Consultants in the food and beverages industry can immensely benefit businesses striving for excellence in food safety standards and flavor perfection. With their specialized knowledge and experience, Tech4Serve can guide food businesses towards achieving optimal food safety protocols while enhancing flavor profiles, ensuring both consumer safety and satisfaction.
