The Ultimate Guide To A FSMA Compliance Checklist For Your Facility

Many food production facilities should have an FSMA compliance checklist on hand. This valuable tool keeps companies compliant with the rules and regulations of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Food companies registered with the FDA must maintain a food safety plan with specific hazards, activities and actions. As a food business owner, you should take a preventative approach to avoid any related illnesses or risks. In total there are seven major FSMA rules to learn. Such as building a list purchasing procurement program. In this guide, we’ll cover many of the main FSMA compliance checklist items for your facility.

Create A Food Safety Plan

First, create a food safety plan for your facility to maintain FSMA compliance. Importantly, you should plan to have mandated inspections at your facility depending on your risk factors. If your facility is high-risk and processes ingredients known to carry pathogens, you’ll need this inspection every three years. In addition, you should plan any necessary laboratory testing from accredited FDA facilities. Indeed, these can address food safety problems before your products hit the market. Additionally, keep your records accessible for inspection review. Include documentation of employee training, sanitation records, and other files that support your food safety program. In short, create a food safety plan to maintain FSMA compliance in your facility.

Establish Preventative And Corrective Controls

Next, you should establish preventative and corrective controls to comply with the FSMA. Analyze potential biological, chemical, and physical hazards that could affect the food. Some of the best Chinese food franchises in the country do similar things. Then, document procedures such as cooking, refrigerating, and acidifying foods that limit these dangers. Include critical limits and parameters to ensure these controls are met. In addition, you should document your food allergen controls to minimize cross-contact and list them appropriately on your packaging. Of course, you should document appropriate sanitation controls limit environmental pathogens and hazards from handling the food. Absolutely, establish preventative and corrective controls to maintain FSMA compliance.

Ensure A Safe Supply Chain

In addition, you need to ensure a safe supply chain to establish FSMA compliance in your facility. Under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP), the burden of ensuring safe food is transferred to its importers. Thus, the FDA expects the importers to assess and control risk in the supply chain. Therefore, you should keep a list of approved suppliers. Additionally, determine corrective actions you can take in the even the supplier fails. Update your records regularly to ensure they stay well-organized. If a company handles both manufacturing and imports, its preventative controls can cover both requirements. Undoubtedly, ensure a safe supply chain maintain FSMA compliance in your business.

Have A Recall Plan In Place

Moreover, you should also have a recall plan in place to uphold your FSMA compliance. Present specific steps on how to address and perform recalls. For example, you may need to notify consignees and others involved in the shipping process about the affected food in question. Then, provide directions on how to dispose or return the contaminated food. If necessary, notify the public about potential leak and sale of contaminated products. Of course, you need to immediately regulate your product release to prevent more recalled items from getting to consumers and retrieve batches already in circulation. Definitely, have a recall plan in place to uphold your FSMA compliance.

Monitor And Verify Procedures

Furthermore, monitor and verify your procedures to ensure your products are FSMA compliance. To oversee your procedures, you can implement a quality management system (QMS). You may use palantir software or other popular applications. Typically, these systems allow you to assign, track, and verify your action steps. In addition, you can track where your documentation is in the lifecycle, who has reviewed it, and who is responsible for seeing it to its conclusion. Notably, you can also utilize cloud storage to keep your procedures and secure and accessible. Plus, collect digital signatures on-site. Additionally, document and maintain custom workflows to ensure you hit all of your preventative hazard controls. Certainly, monitor and verify your procedures to ensure your products are FSMA compliant.

Importantly, food production facilities and manufacturers should have an FSMA compliance checklist on hand. First, you need to create a food safety plan that outlines necessary inspections and laboratory testing. Next, establish preventative and corrective controls to limit hazards. In addition, ensure a safe supply chain by following the FSVP. Moreover, put a recall plan in place to minimize foodborne illness. Furthermore, monitor and verify your procedures using a quality management system to track your steps. Consider these points to learn about the ultimate guide to a FSMA compliance checklist for your facility.