Today, all food processing and food transportation companies should be fully aware of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was established to protect the U.S. domestic food supply.
Manufacturing safe, wholesome products is perhaps the most important aspect of any dairy foods business, especially when it comes to consumer confidence. Therefore, as an industry, we are always looking for ways to improve our products and maintain the most robust food safety protocols possible.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) said it recognized more than 50 dairy company operations for their outstanding achievements in worker safety. Each operation or plant received the IDFA Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Award in a program that has highlighted workplace safety in U.S. dairy companies for 15 years.
The importance of environmental swabbing in dairy operations cannot be overstated. Some reasons are rather obvious, while others may not be so. But the responsibility falls on all food and beverage manufacturing companies to ensure that public safety, health and trust are not compromised in any way.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1,600 Americans get listeriosis each year, and about 260 of them die. The infection typically is caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
By putting the right programs and procedures in place, dairy facilities could help prevent cross-contact and contamination that lead to costly recalls.
In 2017, there were more than 400 food recalls in the United States. Undeclared allergens and/or improper labeling led the charge as the primary source. Pathogenic organisms from Listeria Monocytogenes and Salmonella and foreign materials came in second and third, respectively.