Needless to say, the food industry is booming, and with all that success comes some serious responsibility. So, it’s not just about food quality control any more for manufacturers. Sure, that is a major one, but it’s not the only one that needs to be prioritised. It’s not even just about making the food taste better, too.
It’s actually about ensuring that every item leaving the factory is safe. One slip-up can lead to serious consequences, from sick customers to a ruined reputation and even getting shut down, depending on how bad things get.
Now, you need to understand that food safety isn’t as simple as it once was. In the past, most concerns were about accidental contamination, like bacteria or allergens sneaking into products. Especially with a lot of food being made under the same roof (but nowadays on food labels there are warnings if allergenic products were made in the same factory).
But now, we live in a world where intentional tampering is becoming a real threat—yes, people deliberately messing with food. Sometimes, this could be in the actual factory itself, but what usually gets on the news is when something happens at stores (which isn’t the retailer’s or the manufacturer’s fault.
So, this post will cover what food manufacturers need to do to protect their consumers, from following essential regulations to preventing tampering at every stage.
Why Food Tampering is a Growing Problem
Just right above, it was mentioned that this seems to be a growing problem. In fact, it’s becoming pretty common in many countries. And no, it’s not just a fluke either. Several factors have contributed to the rise in cases, from social media stunts to concerns about terrorism. Since food security becomes more complex, manufacturers and consumers alike need to stay vigilant.
Terrorism and Food Safety
One of the more unsettling reasons for increased food tampering is the potential for terrorism. Unfortunately, this is a reality, and there have been real life cases of this happening in the food manufacturing plant itself (which the staff does have the power to control).
This intentional contamination of the food supply can be a way to cause harm on a large scale, which is why regulations like the FSMA Intentional Adulteration Rule have become critical.
Harmful Social Media Trends
In the age of viral content, social media has fueled a rise in reckless food tampering. Most of these food contamination trends started around 2019, when people were filming themselves, for example, licking ice cream to opening packages of food for “pranks,”
Fortunately, many people have gone to prison or faced very harsh fines for these, but regardless, there are still many people to this day who tamper with food and put it back on store shelves. It’s all in the name of gaining attention online, too.
While yes, it’s not exactly the fault of retailers or manufacturers (and it really is left up to the penal system), there still needs to be prevention methods even for this. So, manufacturers now have to think about how their products will stand up to these bizarre antics in stores.
Increasing Supply Chain Complexity
Essentially, the more global and interconnected the food supply becomes, the more opportunities arise for tampering. Usually, longer, more complex supply chains offer multiple points where food can be vulnerable, whether during shipping, packaging, or storage.
Plus, manufacturers must implement more stringent measures to counteract these vulnerabilities.
How Can Food Manufacturers Prevent the Tampering?
So, just above, it was mentioned that terrorism and social media trends are causing people to tamper with products at factories or even just food at grocery stores.
There have even been news reports of American grocery stores needing to net up and lock away baby formula due to a recent internet trend called “She Deserves the Purse”— which was originally meant to be charitable (but sadly backfired). Anyways, it’s really unsettling, but tampering with food is on the rise, and it just might stay that way for the time being.
Even though manufacturers can’t control what happens in stores, they can do plenty to prevent tampering from happening before and after the product leaves their facility. Taking extra precautions along the way can go a long way in ensuring consumers stay safe.
Tamper-Evident Packaging
One of the most effective ways to fight tampering? Well, it’s tamper-evident packaging. It’s designed so that if anyone messes with the product, it’s obvious. There’s things like sealed caps, plastic wrap around jars, or foil under the lid help make sure consumers know if something’s been tampered with.
Plus, small changes like these can make a big difference in keeping customers confident—and safe.
Product Security at Every Step
So, here’s the thing: It’s definitely true that packaging helps, but it’s not the whole story, either. Manufacturers need to ensure the entire production process is secure. Maybe it could be something like sourcing ingredients to shipping the final product. Every step should have measures in place to prevent tampering.
But this means tightening security in facilities—using cameras, locking sensitive areas, and training staff to report suspicious activity. Because, let’s be real, the people on the factory floor are the first line of defense when it comes to stopping tampering in its tracks.
It’s About Ensuring Compliance with Food Safety Regulations
Nowadays, food manufacturers can’t afford to take shortcuts with safety regulations. You have to keep in mind that compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about safeguarding the public from threats like contamination and tampering. This means manufacturers must evaluate their processes and protect vulnerable points from intentional tampering.
Due to the high amount of tampering, there have been more regulations in place, and yes, these regulations are evolving, too. So, this alone makes it really crucial for food-related businesses (particularly food manufacturers and processors) to prepare for the FSMA Intentional Adulteration (IA) Rule, which addresses these threats head-on.
However, overall, keeping up with these standards ensures that food products remain safe from the production line to the consumer’s table.
Training and Awareness are the Keys to Preventing Issues
So, beyond the fancy packaging and high-tech security systems (which should be in the factory), the best defense any food manufacturer has is its people. Yes, you read that right! So, employees need to understand the company’s safety protocols inside and out. Well-trained staff can spot suspicious behavior, maintain hygiene standards, and know what to do in case of an incident.
Employee Screening and Monitoring
Now, this one ties right into what was being said above, but screening employees before they’re hired is a must. Yes, nearly all businesses in all industries do this, but it should be paid more attention to here.
While yes, background checks and security clearances may seem over the top, but they’re necessary to ensure that only trustworthy people have access to sensitive areas of the production line.
Then, once they’re onboard, keeping an eye on employees is just as important. This doesn’t mean heavy-handed surveillance but creating an environment where safety protocols are second nature. Plus, having regular training sessions and refreshers make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to food safety.
Creating a Food Safety Culture
At the end of the day, having safety measures is one thing, but living and breathing them is another. Just like what was mentioned above, safety should become just second nature to everyone.
All manufacturers need to foster a culture where every employee, from the CEO to the entry-level workers, understands the importance of food safety. It’s all about accountability—when everyone takes responsibility, mistakes and oversights are less likely.
Tracking Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Now, you have to keep in mind that every part of the supply chain has its risks. Some ingredients might be more prone to contamination, or certain suppliers might operate in areas with different safety standards.
So, just by simply staying aware of these vulnerabilities, manufacturers can make informed decisions and protect their consumers from potential risks.
It’s About Staying Ahead with Technological Solutions
Alright, so let’s not forget the role of technology in all of this. Tech was already mentioned earlier in the context of surveillance, but that’s not the only thing that manufacturing plants should use it for.
This alone will definitely offer some major opportunities to enhance food safety standards. For example, digital systems that monitor everything in real-time allow manufacturers to track and respond to issues before they spiral out of control. There are a couple of other examples below.
Real-Time Monitoring
This one is getting fairly common in most industrial-based industries (food and agriculture included). So, this alone gives instant feedback on everything, from storage conditions to the cleanliness of equipment. If something’s off, you can count on the system to flag it immediately, allowing quick action. It’s a proactive way to stop issues before they escalate.
Automating Safety Protocols
Since AI is on the rise, this should massively help in preventing any potential tampering. So, automation is another big help in preventing human error, which is often where contamination issues start. Now, automation has been on the rise for a while, for the chances are pretty hight hat it will fully take over most processes.
For example, automated cleaning systems ensure machinery is always sanitized properly, and digital record-keeping makes it easier to track compliance with regulations, ensuring nothing gets overlooked.
Article and permission to publish here provided as Contributed Content. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on October 22, 2024.
Cover image provided by pexels.com.