Adhering to food safety regulations and effectively executing sanitation strategies are not just something for dairy product manufacturers to “consider” — they are essential mandates enforced by government regulations, and for good reason. Effective safety and sanitation practices serve as vital strategies for protecting consumers from allergens and foodborne illnesses and guarding brands against costly and reputation-damaging recalls, according to a 2025 report entitled Food Safety and Sanitation Trends from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. 

However, like many other consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, dairy processors face challenges related to a lack of workforce skills and high employee turnover. “This is a major sanitation challenge because of regulatory controls,” states Jorge Izquierdo, PMMI’s vice president, market development. “Sanitation processes must be carried out correctly to remain in compliance with regulations, avoid unnecessary downtime, maintain consistent quality, and reduce the risk of product contamination.” 

Processing challenges can also arise from unsuitable equipment, such as machines that are not 100% hygienically designed or have problems with water ingress during steam cleaning or washdowns, according to another PMMI study, 2025 Automation in Food and Beverage Equipment Sanitation.

In addition, inappropriate sanitation processes, such as intense cleaning, can damage equipment, while failure to ensure the proper sanitation of the last piece of equipment to come into contact with food during packaging can lead to regulatory breaches or contamination. 

To combat these issues, 75% of CPG firms have updated their sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs), 72% have enhanced employee training and education, and 53% have implemented predictive/preventive cleaning schedules, according to the Food Safety and Sanitation Trends report. Additionally, during equipment selection, the report notes that the top three sanitation considerations are now food-grade materials, hygienic design, and smooth, non-porous surfaces.  

Advanced Technologies Come to the Rescue

Fortunately, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers are acutely aware of the food safety and sanitation challenges faced by dairy processors.

To stay competitive, OEMs are focusing on integrated solutions that prioritize compliance, sanitary design, and digital monitoring, while aiming for reduced operational costs. For example, the PMMI research states that OEMs’ top three future machine additions for sanitation include automated or self-cleaning functions, integrated sanitation-safe human machine interfaces or programmable logic controllers to log activity, and digital integration capability for sanitation processes. 

The integration of automation, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence (AI) analytics is improving the processes of milk pasteurization, homogenization, separation, and packaging, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and reduced human involvement, according to a Precedence Research report entitled Dairy Processing Equipment Market Size and Forecast 2025 to 2034.

Intelligent monitoring systems and AI-enabled quality control tools are also helping dairy producers maintain hygiene, identify contaminants, and optimize processing efficiency.

But even if a line is automated, humans still need to monitor cleaning processes, and they must have the right skills and knowledge. Hiring and training staff who can master line operation skills continues to be a top challenge for the entire food and beverage industry. Additionally, there are perceived risks associated with relying completely on automation, as regulatory and safety concerns remain a top priority for CPG companies. 

Charting the Path for Change

The best approach to exploring automation is to start with the most important pain point and create a pilot project that includes all relevant stakeholders. Strong communication among departments is essential to gather input and identify where automation can be implemented most effectively, according to the Precedence Research study.

CPG personnel interviewed for PMMI research predict healthy spending on food safety and sanitation services and equipment in the coming year. Most firms intend to purchase food safety-compliant and sanitation-ready equipment within the next three years. 

These developments are virtually inevitable since food safety regulatory standards will push the modernization of equipment, and stringent food safety regulations will encourage dairy manufacturers to invest in high-quality processing equipment, according to Precedence Research. 

Modernization efforts, like the USDA’s Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, are often the impetus for accelerating plant upgrades. In fact, the FDA’s 2023 Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) is prompting systematic equipment overhauls, according to a Mordor Intelligence report on Dairy Processing Equipment Market Size & Share Analysis — Growth Trends and Forecast (2025–2030).

Additionally, the FDA’s Dairy Grade A Voluntary HACCP program provides an alternative compliance pathway, focusing on science-based food safety measures and requiring processors to conduct systematic hazard analyses across their operations, states Mordor Intelligence’s report. 

Dairy industry professionals seeking to address production challenges and expedite projects may be interested in PACK EXPO East 2026, taking place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia from Feb. 17 to 19.

EXPO East helps CPG companies get ahead on 2026 projects and tackle new challenges early. The event provides in-person interaction with machines, materials, and other products related to dairy processing, and features free educational sessions on the show floor covering best practices, industry trends, cutting-edge technology, and key concerns, such as workforce development, AI, productivity improvement, and automation.

To learn more about the event, visit www.packexpoeast.com.