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Valuable Information for Companies in the Food Industry |
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Welcome to PSV Food Safety Consultants
Welcome to our newsletter. It delivers important news and information, as well as identifying useful resources that can enhance your organization's competitiveness in the food industry. Our focus is on helping you to achieve and maintain an approved GFSI food safety certification. In doing so, we typically become a valued business partner to our clients. |
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Would your Food Safety Recall Plan Pass FDA Muster?
Under the Food Safety and Modernization Act, the FDA requires that companies involved in the food industry have a written food safety recall plan. Do you have a plan? Would it pass FDA muster?
 Any company can suffer a product recall, no matter how responsible they may be. Today's food industry involves a lot of moving parts, and as hard as we try, it only takes one unexpected incident to generate the need for a product recall.
The FDA requires that a recall plan provide procedures about how to notify a consignee of product recalled, how to return/dispose of a product, how to notify the public about hazards in food, how to conduct an effectiveness check, and disposal or reworking procedures of recalled food.
Traceability is critical to an effective recall plan. Rapid tracing of the source of outbreaks facilitates timely recalls. This requires the ability to track food and beverage products through all stages of production, processing and distribution.
Good recall plans are well-documented and backed by efficient record-keeping. It is wise to also have documented test recalls to ensure that a plan actually works, as it must under stressful circumstances.
Ideal recall plans are comprehensive. They emphasize procedures and notifications. A special team should be previously designated to quickly manage crisis situations. There can be no delays in implementing a product recall. Notifications include management and legal resources to deal with the recall fallout. Plans and staffing to handle consumer inquiries and complaints must also be addressed. And don't forget insurance policies to cover the additional costs and liabilities a food safety recall typically involves!
We Can Help
We are a North American alliance of expert food safety consultants. If your organization needs assistance in preparing food safety plans and becoming certified to universally accepted GFSI schemes, we can help. We also have customized maintenance programs to help ensure your company is prepared for re-certification audits, vendor audits and FDA inspections. Learn more at Food Safety Consultants.
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