Insight into Food Quality Measurement

What is considered food quality?

Food Quality is the quality that the consumer finds acceptable in food service. The food quality parameter includes external elements like aspect (size, shape, brightness, and color), texture, and taste. Other features include internal components and legal quality standards (chemical, physical, microbiological). Many consumers base their decisions on production and processing norms, citing substances with dietary, medicinal, or nutritional requirements (for allergies or diabetes, for example). Food quality is intimately tied to health and hygiene standards and includes traceability and labeling.

Importance of Quality Control

  1. Decrease in production costs

Companies in the food sector can significantly lower their production costs by implementing effective inspection and control in the production processes and operations. Production expenses are further raised by wastage and poor product quality. Quality control monitors the creation of subpar goods and wastes, which significantly lowers the cost of production.

  1. Improved goodwill

Quality control boosts the company’s reputation in the public eye by creating goods of higher quality and meeting client needs. As a result, the brand gains a solid reputation and favorable word-of-mouth marketing on offline and online platforms. A well-known company can readily raise capital from the market. Additionally, a company’s chances of surviving in the fiercely competitive market are better with improved goodwill.

  1. Simplifies pricing

Companies in the food business can ensure that uniform products of the same quality are produced by implementing quality control techniques. This considerably simplifies the issue of food product price fixing. Additionally, this removes the concern over commodities’ prices fluctuating continually.

  1. Improved Sales

Quality control ensures that high-quality items are produced, which draws more customers to the product and boosts sales. It is crucial in sustaining and generating new demand for the company’s products. Additionally, increased social media usage has increased the need for brands to stay alert constantly. Any unfavorable feedback from a customer could harm the brand’s reputation.

  1. Improved Production Methods

Quality control ensures that goods are produced according to the desired standards and at reasonable rates. Quality control ensures better methods and designs of production by providing technical and engineering data for the product and manufacturing processes.

  1. Enhanced employee morale

An efficient quality control system is beneficial in raising staff morale. Employees are more inclined and motivated to work toward the firm’s goals when they believe they are employed by a company that produces sound, high-quality products. Additionally, these workers are more likely to adhere to the organization’s criteria for quality control in their work.

What are Food Quality Testing Parameters?

Any food characteristics used to gauge quality can be called quality parameters. However, the specific features assessed can vary since quality can mean different things to different people along the food supply chain.

 

The following parameters are commonly used in food quality testing:

These quality parameters are used alone or in various combinations depending on the needs of a stakeholder in the food supply chain.

Broad Categories of Food Quality Measuring Instruments 

 

 

Conclusion

A separate industrial sector is expanding with food science research and practice to create and deliver the precise instruments required to measure and monitor numerous quality indicators. One of the most widely used methods is near-infrared spectroscopy, which is suitable for determining the quality and quantity of organic molecules. Together with those made for post-harvest gas analysis, these tools are actively enhancing the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, paving the way for more earnings and more environmentally friendly practices.

Reference

 

FSSC 22000: A brief insight

What is FSSC 22000?

With the industrialization of food, there is an increasing need for affordable, safe, and good-quality food products. FSSC 22000 provides a brand assurance platform to the food industry. Food Safety System Certification 22000 (FSSC 22000) is an internationally accepted certification scheme for certifying and auditing food safety within the food and beverage industry. It is accepted worldwide because it is recognized by Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

What is the backbone of FSSC 22000?

FSSC22000 is based on 3 components:

  1. ISO22000- Provides a basic framework across the entire framework.
  2. PRPs- Includes requirements derived from BSI, PAS, and ISO Technical Specification Standards.
  3. FSSC22000 Additional Requirements- Covers those requirements missed in ISO22000 and PRPs.

Aims and Objectives

  1. Create and maintain an accurate and reliable register of certified organizations that have demonstrated that they meet the system’s requirements.
  2. Support the accurate application of food safety and quality management systems.
  3. Promote national and international recognition and acceptance of food safety and quality management systems.
  4. Provide information and campaigns on food safety and quality management systems and support for the certification of food safety management systems in food safety and quality.

Which organizations can get FSSC22000 certification?

FSSC supports the whole food supply chain. It covers:

  • Processing of ambient stable products
  • Production of feed
  • Production of pet food (only for dogs and cats)
  • Production of pet food (for other pets)
  • Catering
  • Retail /Wholesale
  • Provision of transport and storage services for perishable food and feed
  • Provision of transport and storage services for ambient stable food, feed, and packaging materials
  • Production of food packaging and packaging materials
  • Production of Bio-chemicals

Difference between FSSC 22000 and FSSC 22000 QUALITY

Combining FSSC 22000 and ISO 9001 is called FSSC 22000 QUALITY. FSSC 22000 QUALITY is for an organization that wishes to integrate its Food Quality Management System into the scope of certification.

Audit and Certification Process of FSSC 22000

The certification process and audit proceeds according to the steps below:

  1. Initial Certification Audit – The initial certification audit includes: – fixing a mutually convenient date for both the certification body and the applicant, applicant, ensuring that it has all the required documents, staff members, and all the operations and processes ready to be audited on the audit day.
  2. The two Stages for the FSSC 22000 Audit –
    • STAGE 1: Stage 1 verifies that the applicant follows the FSSC 22000 standards, own internal documents, and regulations of the country. The applicant organization must have at least six months of verifiable records for the audit. After review, it will include “areas of concern,” which will be categorized as Major or Minor areas of concern. Finally, the applicant will have up to 6 months to fix the errors. The main objective of this stage is to assess the preparedness for stage 2 of the organization.
    • STAGE 2: In stage 2, activities subjected to the proposed certification shall be assessed and shall take place during the initial six months after stage 1. The site shall be fully operational during the audit. Applicants are issued with either Minor, Major, or Critical findings. In the case of Major and Critical results, the certificate will be issued once these issues are resolved.
  3. Certificate Issue – After all the issues have been resolved to the auditor’s satisfaction, the Certification Body shall issue a certificate which essentially gives assurance that all the standard’s requirements have been met.
  4. Surveillance Audits – After the certification is issued, annual surveillance audits shall be conducted within the three-year, of which at least one must be unannounced.
  5. Recertification Audits – Recertification audits are conducted every three years and usually coincide with a newer version of FSSC 22000. It is a complete audit that encourages the latest compliance and demonstrates the organization’s competence.

 

Why FSSC 22000?

  • Economical – Organizations can pay all at once or divide the payment over three years. It is economical compared to other schemes, such as British Retail Consortium (BRC), where the organization should pay annually.
  • Valid for three years – Once certified, the organization does not have to worry about certification for three years if they maintain the given standard.
  • Benefit of Surveillance Audit – The auditors will audit each year, which provides room for improvement, if any.

Conclusion

FSSC 22000 is designed to help an organization establish and control and improve its food safety management. The scheme is recognized by GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) and is accepted worldwide.

FSSC 22000 integrates quality management with food safety by including all the requirements of ISO9001, making it a one-stop solution for an organization that wishes to incorporate quality into the scope of certification.

It ensures visibility up and down the supply chain. The scheme has both flexibilities with accountability, meeting the needs of individual organizations.

Reference

  1. https://www.fssc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/FSSC-22000-Scheme-Version-5.1_pdf.pdf
  2. https://ascconsultants.co.za/how-to-get-fssc-22000-certification#Step_12_Understand_the_FSSC_Certification_Audit_Process
  3. https://onecert.com/wordpress_documents/FSSC%2022000%20Guideline.pdf
  4. https://online-training.registrarcorp.com/resources/what-is-fssc-22000/
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIwUD6fY8h0
  6. https://www.fssc.com/schemes/fssc-22000/scheme-documents-version-5-1/
  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Food_Safety_Initiative#References
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdA7x1Fgogo

Material Warehouse Planning Introduction Types and Components

  1. What are Warehouse and Warehousing?

A warehouse is a place where the goods and products are stored before they are distributed, sold, or used. The act of repositioning materials is called warehousing. Modern warehouse and distribution systems are highly complex, and in which, must meet a variety of requirements concerning time. The modern warehouse system is highly efficient, and the efficient operation of such systems is a continuous challenge for anyone in charge. It consists of advanced computer-based control technologies that provide the necessary control and management systems (Warehouse Management Systems, WMS)

  1. Type of Warehousing

There are many types of warehousing

  • Racking System
  • Mobile Shelving System
  • Multi-tier Racking
  • Ground Pallet’s Arrangements System
  • Racking System

A racking system warehouse is the storage solution for stacking material in a horizontal row with multiple levels. Now a day, the racking system is one of the most popular ways of warehousing. In this case, the benefit is storage of maximum number of materials in minimum required area. Another advantage being minimum wastage of horizontal area. The utilization factor of storage is 90-95%. The pallets flow is from one side to another second side. With the use of the stacker or forklifts, infeed of materials on a pallet is done for multi rack arrangement and some drives are available in the racking for pulling the pallets to the out-feed direction for taking out pallets. The system is based on the FIFO principle.

The FIFO holds first in first out, which is an inventory control system- which depends on the fact of – Material coming IN first shall be OUT of warehouse first. Though the cost implication of the racking system warehouse is of course higher that the traditional ways of material storage.

  • Mobile shelving System

The mobile shelving system is used for lightweight materials warehousing like-books storage in libraries, Grocery storage for shops and malls, etc. Mobile shelving uses storage cabinets or racks mounted to carriages on wheels that slide across a floor track to eliminate fixed aisles, to avoid wastage of space, providing more filing capacity within the same footprint.

Mobile shelving systems have multi rows that move along floor rails until compacted into a smaller-size area, giving much more space to store extra items. During non-use, all the rows can be collated by mechanism, like rotating wheel, pressing the button, etc. How it works? So, rotating wheel mechanism is linked for compressing and collate all rows. When rotated the wheel and the rows compress until the compact.

  • Multi-Tier Racking System

The multi-tier racking system is designed for warehouses with limited floor areas, but available height is used for manual storage solutions that maximize warehouse space. They offer an optimum use of height by creating different levels of manual loading aisles at heights accessible by stairs.

  • Ground Pallet’s Arrangements System

It is a material handling storage system designed to store materials on pallets. The ground pallets arrangements system is commonly used in all the warehouses. This system requires more space or area for storage as compared to the racking or shelving system. Thought this arrangement is very cheapest when compared to above two system. The utilization factor is 65-75% of the total warehouse area, other free space is used for material movements and aisles.

In this type of arrangement, we don’t achieve the storage goal and this is one of the most traditional known method of warehousing. 

  1. Planning & Designing of Warehouse

Internal factors for consideration

  • Access to Materials –Easy access to materials, as there should not be any interruptions to material access, like-pallets, partition, and other barriers etc.
  • Material movements – Materials movements should be easy.
  • Aisle Factor Consideration – Sufficient space for aisle for man and material movement. The aisle factor varies as per warehousing, and it is generally 1000-1800mm
  • Evacuation & Safety plans – An evacuation plan and safety signage should be there for any emergency exits. While warehouse planning all fire safety measures and all the safety equipment should be considered like – Fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, etc.

External factors for consideration

  • Size & Configuration of the site – The warehouse size should be sufficient for storage and Arrangements.
  • Site access – Site access should be easy for trucks and vehicles loading & unloading.
  • Financial Consideration – It is always necessary to evaluate financial impact.
  • Building Arrangements – Types and size of the building like – RCC, PEB Shed, or any other.
  1. Advantages of Warehousing
  • Increase productivity – Increasing the productivity by having the materials space near the production area.
  • Increase the inventory of products – Warehouse space increases the inventory space in the production line thus helping in the uninterrupted production.
  • Simple process for material handling – Warehouse facilitates access to material in the production area.
  • No wastage & damage – During transportation from the longer route can always increase the threat of product damage, mishandling. And warehouse helps solve the problem.
  1. Reference