The world as we know it is not, and will never be, the same.
This is the stark and visible reality resulting from the escalating pandemic caused by COVID-19.
Could this virus continue to develop such overcoming power as to disrupt the food and beverage industry totally?
We are all in unchartered waters; therefore, it is a possibility yet to be determined.
On March 28, 2020, the federal government issued an Advisory Memorandum listing the industries that have been identified as “essential” during this time.
The food and beverage industry qualified as such a group.
Specifically, this article is directed at manufacturers and packagers in the industry.
Food and Beverage Processing
Every day, supermarkets and other essential retail stores restock their shelves and cycling through the inventory of healthy foods and beverages.
Meanwhile, consumers scramble to purchase these products and stock their own home shelves with what they believe will strengthen their immune health and build up defenses against the seemingly unstoppable virus.
Considering this, how should food and beverage processing firms deal with the rise in human infection and deciding whether to remain open and operational or not?
This decision will no doubt grow more challenging over time as COVID-19 news updates are delivered daily.
In March 2017, The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED), a self-described “nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led public policy organization,” published a detailed report on the industry.
They stated that over 320 million American consumers’ needs are met by the food and beverage segment of the food industry, which generates about US$164 billion a year.
Given this, it is understandable that much is at stake economically in the event of a total operational shutdown due to the virus.
Yet, it sparks conflict for many companies wanting to run at full operation while concurrently ensuring and prioritizing their workforce safety.
Food Safety
FDA has posted on its website valuable information concerning how industry and consumers should additionally approach food safety./p>
Included in this are links to added guidance documents and other important information provided by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the NIH (National Institute of Health), and OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) concerning employee safety and protection during this pandemic.
Manufacturers and packagers should take focused measures to review and adhere to these directives to continue or suspend operation (if warranted).
In light of this, how do you balance ensuring the care and safety of employees while meeting market demand accelerated by frantic consumer need, as this virus threatens all?
Four Recommended Steps
Here are four recommended steps to help achieve this balance and effectively maintain an uninterrupted food and beverage supply.
- Know what cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) regulation(s) applies to your industry and ensure strict adherence (e.g., FSMA [Food Safety Modernization Act] requirements). Having a robust Quality Management System (QMS) with well-written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and proper employee training will ensure consistent compliance with the necessary facility, equipment, product manufacturing, and testing requirements.
- Review and ensure appropriate and effective personnel hygiene procedures and policies are in place. FDA has long provided regulations that specifically address this across the food industry (i.e., initially, 21 CFR 110.10; now 21 CFR 117.10 Personnel
(a) Disease control;
(b) Cleanliness) for both the domestic and foreign supply chains. Clearly specified in these regulations are required steps that a company must take to ensure that both persons and products are not contaminated by day-to-day handling or contagious human illness. This would also be an appropriate time to have Human Resources review the Employee Handbook for company policy on employee illness reporting and handling. Consider updating this with current relevant health authority requirements. OSHA has also provided recommended guidance on preparing workplace environments for COVID-19. - Retrain employees and develop a COVID-19 Pandemic Disease Plan (PDP). Conduct a training refresher on cGMP personnel hygiene practices and incorporate present state/local public health guidance and directives on how best to avoid the spread of the disease and protect workers, customers, clients, contractors, etc. Be sure to document this training properly. Employees who advise that they have tested positive for COVID-19 should be sent home immediately and told to contact their health care provider. Subsequently, report the incident to your local or state public health department as may be required. This allows the health authorities to conduct “contact tracing” and monitor your company’s employee population. Employees are to be notified of the occurrence, but the infected employee’s name should remain confidential (Americans With Disabilities Act [“ADA”] and the EEOC [Equal Opportunity Employment]).
- Ensure appropriate cleaning procedures for product contact surfaces and direct handling of equipment.Review all cleaning procedures to ensure requirements are met; update if necessary. Although the FDA has stated, no current food or food packaging is being associated with transmitting the virus. It is always best to err on the side of caution at this early stage. Additionally, make sure the dilution factor of approved sanitizers is correct to be effective (e.g., 70% Isopropyl Alcohol [IPA]). All applicable employees are provided with proper OSHA safety training to handle and maintain this. In beverage or other liquid manufacturing, product-contact equipment surfaces must be kept sanitized and dried when not in use. Proper monitoring of potable water supplies/sources (or equivalent) must be conducted by appropriate Quality Unit procedures and testing.
A Renewed Normal
The COVID-19 outbreak has stirred every industry, including the food and beverage industry.
A “renewed normal’ is here.
As such, companies and their leaders should continue to remain as calm as possible, focus on appropriate responses, and be reminded that the safety of all people is everyone’s responsibility.
The world as we know it is not, and will never be, the same.
This is the stark and visible reality resulting from the escalating pandemic caused by COVID-19.
Could this virus continue to develop such overcoming power as to disrupt the food and beverage industry totally?
We are all in unchartered waters; therefore, it is a possibility yet to be determined.
On March 28, 2020, the federal government issued an Advisory Memorandum listing the industries that have been identified as “essential” during this time.
The food and beverage industry qualified as such a group.
Specifically, this article is directed at manufacturers and packagers in the industry.
Food and Beverage Processing
Every day, supermarkets and other essential retail stores restock their shelves and cycling through the inventory of healthy foods and beverages.
Meanwhile, consumers scramble to purchase these products and stock their own home shelves with what they believe will strengthen their immune health and build up defenses against the seemingly unstoppable virus.
Considering this, how should food and beverage processing firms deal with the rise in human infection and deciding whether to remain open and operational or not?
This decision will no doubt grow more challenging over time as COVID-19 news updates are delivered daily.
In March 2017, The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED), a self-described “nonprofit, nonpartisan, business-led public policy organization,” published a detailed report on the industry.
They stated that over 320 million American consumers’ needs are met by the food and beverage segment of the food industry, which generates about US$164 billion a year.
Given this, it is understandable that much is at stake economically in the event of a total operational shutdown due to the virus.
Yet, it sparks conflict for many companies wanting to run at full operation while concurrently ensuring and prioritizing their workforce safety.
Food Safety
FDA has posted on its website valuable information concerning how industry and consumers should additionally approach food safety./p>
Included in this are links to added guidance documents and other important information provided by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the NIH (National Institute of Health), and OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) concerning employee safety and protection during this pandemic.
Manufacturers and packagers should take focused measures to review and adhere to these directives to continue or suspend operation (if warranted).
In light of this, how do you balance ensuring the care and safety of employees while meeting market demand accelerated by frantic consumer need, as this virus threatens all?
Four Recommended Steps
Here are four recommended steps to help achieve this balance and effectively maintain an uninterrupted food and beverage supply.
- Know what cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) regulation(s) applies to your industry and ensure strict adherence (e.g., FSMA [Food Safety Modernization Act] requirements). Having a robust Quality Management System (QMS) with well-written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and proper employee training will ensure consistent compliance with the necessary facility, equipment, product manufacturing, and testing requirements.
- Review and ensure appropriate and effective personnel hygiene procedures and policies are in place. FDA has long provided regulations that specifically address this across the food industry (i.e., initially, 21 CFR 110.10; now 21 CFR 117.10 Personnel
(a) Disease control;
(b) Cleanliness) for both the domestic and foreign supply chains. Clearly specified in these regulations are required steps that a company must take to ensure that both persons and products are not contaminated by day-to-day handling or contagious human illness. This would also be an appropriate time to have Human Resources review the Employee Handbook for company policy on employee illness reporting and handling. Consider updating this with current relevant health authority requirements. OSHA has also provided recommended guidance on preparing workplace environments for COVID-19. - Retrain employees and develop a COVID-19 Pandemic Disease Plan (PDP). Conduct a training refresher on cGMP personnel hygiene practices and incorporate present state/local public health guidance and directives on how best to avoid the spread of the disease and protect workers, customers, clients, contractors, etc. Be sure to document this training properly. Employees who advise that they have tested positive for COVID-19 should be sent home immediately and told to contact their health care provider. Subsequently, report the incident to your local or state public health department as may be required. This allows the health authorities to conduct “contact tracing” and monitor your company’s employee population. Employees are to be notified of the occurrence, but the infected employee’s name should remain confidential (Americans With Disabilities Act [“ADA”] and the EEOC [Equal Opportunity Employment]).
- Ensure appropriate cleaning procedures for product contact surfaces and direct handling of equipment.Review all cleaning procedures to ensure requirements are met; update if necessary. Although the FDA has stated, no current food or food packaging is being associated with transmitting the virus. It is always best to err on the side of caution at this early stage. Additionally, make sure the dilution factor of approved sanitizers is correct to be effective (e.g., 70% Isopropyl Alcohol [IPA]). All applicable employees are provided with proper OSHA safety training to handle and maintain this. In beverage or other liquid manufacturing, product-contact equipment surfaces must be kept sanitized and dried when not in use. Proper monitoring of potable water supplies/sources (or equivalent) must be conducted by appropriate Quality Unit procedures and testing.
A Renewed Normal
The COVID-19 outbreak has stirred every industry, including the food and beverage industry.
A “renewed normal’ is here.
As such, companies and their leaders should continue to remain as calm as possible, focus on appropriate responses, and be reminded that the safety of all people is everyone’s responsibility.
