Ensuring Food Safety through HACCP Principles

Bio: A proud alumnus of the Illinois Institute of Technology with a major in Food Safety, I've had the privilege of contributing to the food industry across Illinois, Wisconsin, and North Virginia. Currently, I am honing my expertise at Flying Food Group. Beyond my professional pursuits, my passions lie in the culinary world, the precision of mathematics, and the joyous company of dogs.

Food manufacturing is guided by HACCP principles, ensuring the production of safe, high-quality food products.

1. Raw Material Receiving: This step involves sourcing raw ingredients setting the foundation for the manufacturing process.

2. Storing: Ingredients are stored under specific conditions to maintain their quality.

3. Processing: This stage involves transforming raw materials into final products with quality checks, adherence to GMP, and tools like 'kill steps' for safety.

Innovative Food Safety Initiatives: Transitioning from paper-based lot number tracing to visual, plant-level tracing enhances transparency and controls food waste, a primary cost concern.

Labor challenges persist due to the demanding nature of manufacturing and lower pay scales.

Advice for New Professionals:

● View food safety as an end-to-end service connecting your product to customers.

● Set SMART objectives in your facility.

● Embrace continuous improvement.

● Be a guiding mentor to your subordinates, fostering mutual respect and learning.

Food Manufacturing Overview: Guided by HACCP, the manufacturing process begins with raw ingredient sourcing, ensuring a strong foundation. Proper storage, governed by the need to maintain ingredient quality, follows. The processing stage transforms these ingredients into finished products, requiring diligent quality checks, adherence to GMP, and tools like 'kill steps' for safety.

‘View food safety as an end-to-end service connecting your product to customers.’

Innovative Safety Initiatives: At our facility, we've transitioned from traditional lot number tracing to visual, plant-level tracing. This modern method elevates transparency and notably curbs food waste, a primary cost concern. However, challenges persist, especially in labor, due to its demanding nature and less competitive pay.