At least 1 in 6 Americans contract an illness from contaminated food or beverages and 3,000 die from foodborne illnesses every year. The FDA has set in place guidelines known as cGMP to prevent these issues.
Failing to follow the regulations could lead to severe fines or being forced to shut down. This makes them essential for anyone in the industry to know and work to follow.
Read on to learn more about what cGMP standards require, why they matter, and how to meet them.
What cGMP Standards Require
GMP or good manufacturing practices for the food industry were established by the FDA in 1969. The most up-to-date version of these regulations is known as cGMP or current good manufacturing practices.
The many principles of GMP in the food industry fit into 5 categories.
General provisions are the broadest of these categories. It includes regulations about hygiene, supervision, education, and training.
Building and facilities include regulations about how a facility that serves food should be maintained. This includes everything from waste disposal to plumbing and more.
The equipment category covers equipment design, construction, and maintenance. It also determines what temperatures they should stay at.
The production and process control category lists requirements for sanitation. It also covers food quality factors such as temperature, time, pH, humidity, acidification, and flow rate.
The fifth and final category, defect action levels, determines how much can be done about unavoidable or natural defects.
There are also separate standards for GMP in the food industry. They cover specific items such as bottled water, baby formula, and dietary supplements.
How to Meet cGMP Standards
Maintaining good manufacturing practices in the food industry is essential because it reduces product defects and lowers food safety risks. It also helps you avoid legal issues, and lets customers know they can trust you.
The best way to start meeting cGMP standards is to seek FDA guidance. The organization will be able to tell you which standards apply to your business and how to meet them.
The FDA also performs scheduled and unscheduled inspections of businesses to see if they're meeting cGMP regulations. You could also get a private auditing firm to determine if you meet the necessary requirements.
Perform your own internal inspections using free downloadable audit checklists. Maintain a record of the steps you're taking to stay compliant.
Require your employees to receive food GMP training. It will help them learn about any new regulations and ensure that they're following them.
Where to Get cGMP Help
Following cGMP guidelines is one of the most important parts of working in the food industry. It prevents safety and legal issues that could shut you down.
Once you know the standards that apply to your business, the next step is to ensure you're meeting them. Keep detailed records, be prepared for FDA audits, and get GMP training for your employees.
Paster Training is a food safety company that provides cGMP inspections, audits, and training. Contact us today to learn how we can benefit your business.