#KeepCodingSimple

As a business owner in the food industry, one has to be prepared for potential recalls due to manufacturing errors, specifically when it comes to failures in allergen control and labeling mistakes. Identifying these issues allows for companies to create and implement preventative measures in their supply chain. Read the information provided below to get a better idea of the common allergen control failures and labeling mistakes, as well as ideas on how to prevent these issues from occurring.

All Ingredients Not Properly Identified

While you would think that this would be something that your company always does, it is important that you double-check to make sure it’s actually happening on your production line. What normally happens is that incorrect terminology is used. This can be harmful down the road when an individual who is allergic to a specific type of ingredient reads the ingredients and the correct information is not portrayed.

Fortunately, there is an easy way to ensure that you aren’t incorrectly informing your consumers. Make sure that your company compares the ingredients list with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to gain the proper terminology that should be used, as well as having multiple eyes approve the information to ensure it is correct.

Confusing or Incorrect Package Design

Another common recall is caused by having a confusing or incorrect package design. Whether it be because a product package design was overlooked, rushed, or just a simple slip-up – it is still costly and hurtful to the company. To confirm that this doesn’t happen for your product, every department needs to approve the graphic before it is printed on the packaging. By allowing everybody to see the design, it will hopefully eliminate any and all issues.

Poor Manufacturing Practices Are in Place

It is extremely important to have good manufacturing practices (GMP). If this is not the case for your product, you are most likely going to suffer from recalls, allergen control failure, and labeling mistakes, all of which are harmful to your business and will cost you money. Strong and influential GMPs should be apparent throughout the entire supply chain.

To assure success in this area, implement the following:

• Clear the entire product line when a changeover happens
• Implement a test run for the entire production line
• Sign off and check all areas of the production line.

These three GMPs will be greatly beneficial in turning some poor practices into positive ones. Hopefully, before you know it, your failures and mistakes will be greatly reduced, even with just this simple change.

No Separation Between Allergen and Non-Allergen Products

A company that has allergen and non-allergen products should have two separate production lines to provide safety and security to their consumers. Implementing separate production lines or even having separate facilities will allow you to lessen the possibility of having allergen control failures and cross-contamination when producing your product. If you don’t have different production lines, you will have to have changeovers where the entire line is cleaned before and after each product. This is a hassle and takes time away from production. Separate production lines or facilities are recommended to save time and allow companies to ensure the products’ safety.

Products Mispackaged

Unfortunately, a common mistake that can occur is packaging a product in the wrong container. There are many reasons why this could occur; however, if you were to install barcode scanners and vision systems, it could easily help identify any such mistakes. This equipment can catch these errors because it can confirm that the right products are going into the correct corresponding packages. Having these checks and balances will prove to be extremely beneficial and allow for fewer common allergen control failures and labeling mistakes.

For example, let’s say that everything went correctly throughout the production line for your chocolate chip cookies and they were packaged in the primary package correctly; however, there was an error when it got to the secondary packaging. The normal chocolate chip cookies ended up being packaged in a gluten-free secondary packaging for the product. When the product moves its way down the production line and reaches the barcode scanners and vision systems, they will be able to identify that the secondary package does not match the primary package and that there is a mix-up.

Improper or Unreliable Equipment

In addition to the barcode scanners and vision systems explained above, there are other pieces of equipment that you should ensure you have on your production line that will help eliminate mistakes and failures for your product. To validate you have the right equipment, refer to the following:

• Balance cost savings with performance and reliability
• Perform research to ensure you have top-of-the-line equipment for what you are producing
• Ensure all equipment and processes are up to date with the easiest and most efficient practices

An example of one small step you can take is to ensure your inkjet coding is legible by making sure you have the best inkjet coding printer to do the job. Simply having this piece of equipment can eliminate so many of your headaches!

Be the diligent and hands-on business owner we know you can be and ensure that you are doing everything you can to eliminate these failures and mistakes throughout your production line. The tips provided above will make all the difference and will hopefully make everything that much simpler for you. Taking the time to look at these areas and provide guidance on how to improve will not only save you money, but will also result in even more success for your business.

And while we are on the topic of simple, why don’t you take it a step further and #keepcodingsimple by checking out our coding and marking printers. We have no doubt that our equipment will be the greatest asset to your production line. When purchasing, you will be able to print everything you could possibly need both successfully and efficiently. For more information on the equipment that we have available, visit our website or call us today to speak with one of our dedicated professionals.