Tips to Help Food Manufacturers and Distributors Prepare for National Food Safety Month

VAI Outlines Strategies and Provides Resources for Food Companies to Ensure Compliance with Food Safety Regulations

Ronkonkoma, NY – August 29, 2013 – September is National Food Safety Month and food safety is top of mind for food manufacturers and distributors. The government has enforced strict guidelines and standards for food companies to strengthen the safety and compliance of food processes. To help these organizations prepare for and support National Food Safety Month, VAI, a leading provider of ERP software, announced the availability of resources and best practices for food safety strategies.

“Food companies have a heightened awareness of how safety concerns impact business’ bottom line. Driven by increased legislation and food recalls, manufacturers and distributors are challenged with adhering to strict safety regulations, all while delivering products in a quick and efficient manner,” said Joe Scioscia, VP of Sales, VAI. “For companies that have not developed food safety strategies, National Food Safety Month provides a great opportunity to employ new policies for inventory management, product tracking and automated record keeping. VAI is excited to provide all food manufacturers and distributors with the resources necessary to ensure food safety.”

To comply with Food Safety regulations it is important to develop a written Food Safety Plan that identifies and evaluates known or reasonably foreseeable hazards for each type of food manufactured, processed, packed or held at the facility. It is important that the plan include the following information:

• Preventive Controls: Required to be identified and implemented to provide assurances that hazards that are reasonably likely to occur will be significantly minimized or prevented. Preventive controls would be required to include, as appropriate: (1) process controls, (2) food allergen controls, (3) sanitation controls, and (4) a recall plan.
• Monitoring Procedures: To provide assurance that preventive controls are consistently performed and records to document the monitoring.
• Corrective Actions: To be used if preventive controls are not properly implemented. Facilities would be required to correct problems and minimize the likelihood of reoccurrence, evaluate the food for safety and prevent affected food from entering commerce when necessary.
• Verification activities: To ensure that preventive controls are consistently implemented and are effective. Verification activities might include validation that the preventive controls are adequate for their purpose and are effective in controlling the hazard, activities to verify that controls are operating as intended and review of monitoring records.
• Record Keeping: Facilities would be required to keep a written food safety plan, including the hazard analysis. They also would be required to keep records of preventive controls, monitoring, corrective actions, and verification.

Technology plays an important role in helping companies define their processes and in tracking inventory throughout the supply chain, but training is an essential component for Warehouse Food Safety. All employees should understand and be aware of the hazards of adulterated or compromised foods. Managers and supervisors should be trained to understand the key leadership role they play in sanitation and should be updated with any changes in industry regulations. All food handlers should be trained in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP'S), Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures (SSOP'S), and to ‘clean as you go.’

For more information on how food manufacturers and distributors can meet the challenges of today’s economic environment and prepare for National Food Safety Month, click here.

About VAI (Vormittag Associates, Inc.)

VAI is a leading independent mid-market ERP software developer renowned for its flexible solutions and ability to automate critical business functions for the distribution, manufacturing, specialty retail and service sectors. An IBM Premier Business Partner, VAI is the 2012 IBM Beacon Award Winner for Outstanding Solutions for Midsize Businesses. VAI continues to innovate with new solutions that leverage analytics, business intelligence, mobility and cloud technology to help customers make more informed business decisions in real-time and empower their mobile workforces. VAI is headquartered in Ronkonkoma, NY with branch offices in Florida, Illinois and California. For more information, visit www.vai.net, follow @VAISoftware on Twitter or “like us” on facebook.com/VAISoftware.