What happens if you do improper Food testing?
Quality or excellence in our food supply chain should be an important concern to all food processors. It is axiomatic that safety and quality must be designed into a food product; they cannot be achieved by end-product testing.
However, food quality control involves many difficult issues. Some of these are highly technical, while others are partly technological and partly political. It is a legal and an ethical responsibility of a food business operator to ensure that safe food reaches to the plates of the consumer.
Improper Quality testing prior to production and processing
The improper testing of raw material can occur due to the following listed reasons:
- Deficient testing equipment
- Personnel assigned to perform quality tests are not properly trained
- Equipment not calibrated prior to performing tests
- No standardization of work between hourly associates, between shifts or between different branch plants
The improper quality testing of prior to production can result in:
- Purchase of substandard raw materials
- Nutrient Imbalance in the finished product
- Contamination of finished product by pathogens
Improper testing of products prior to sale
Inadequate testing of quality occurs due to the following listed reasons:
- Poor operating techniques
- No use of advanced testing equipment
- Evasion of regulatory supervision and inspection to save costs
The improper quality testing of products prior to sale can result in:
- Misbranding
- Contamination of food by pathogens
- Contamination of food by foreign objects
- Food borne illness among consumers
- Losing trust among consumers
Why an FBO must comply with regulatory norms?
- Stringent quality norms – Almost all countries in the world now have laws governing the production, composition, labeling and safety of processed food and a regulatory body that is responsible for their implementation.
- Heavy Penalties – A food manufacturer contravening national food legislation is subject to penalties which can, in extreme cases, be very severe and involve forced closure of the plant and heavy fines.
- Consumer Awareness – Manufacturers should be aware that consumers are becoming increasing concerned about food safety and quality issues and are thus more likely to take complaints to the local food control authority.