Why Chemical Safety is Important in Food Processing
Chemicals are used in food processes for production, maintenance, and sanitation, so it’s important that you ensure the chemicals that will contact food or food contact surfaces are in compliance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Due to the potential hazards of improperly handled chemicals, it’s important to develop a chemical control program to ensure chemicals do not pose a risk to the product or employees. Effectively controlling chemicals that are essential and routinely used manages this risk! If you can successfully maintain high standards of food processing cleaning, it can reduce the risks from food hazards.
The Chemicals Used in Food Processing
Food processing facilities have to be kept clean to protect food safety and prevent employees and customers from getting foodborne illnesses. Chemical soaps, detergents, sanitizers, and disinfectants are routinely used to help keep the food free of unwanted microorganisms and other contaminants.
These chemicals are vital to the safety and success of any food production process, but they can also be hazardous. Employees who use them or work around them need to understand their hazards and know how to protect themselves.
The Importance of FDA Compliance
In 1998, the FDA signed a five-year contract with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) for them to provide scientific review and analysis of issues in food safety, food processing, and human health. The FDA states, “The first step is hazard identification, which must consider known or reasonably foreseeable biological, chemical, and physical hazards.” The FDA has compliance programs that provide instructions to personnel for having activities to evaluate industry compliance with laws that have been administered.
Lavo Solutions’ equipment can assist in compliance with regulations. Using smart equipment can compile and track data to confirm the processes were completed effectively. With our Connected Solutions, you can look at data, formulas, and flow rates for chemicals and equipment at food plants all over the world, from anywhere.
Using chemicals safely in food processing is vitally important to ensure the safety of everyone. Chemical hazards can be a big threat to food facilities and therefore it’s important to comply with the FDA standards. There are so many chemicals that are used for these processes, so it’s very important to use them safely. Employees should also be well-trained for any occasion when dealing with this type of environment and facilities should create and implement strategies and plans for the prevention of these hazards.