Conformity in packaged food upholds consumer safety, avoids costly product recalls and delivers tangible top- and bottomline business benefits. The Product Inspection Division of Mettler Toledo explains how packaged food manufacturers and brand owners can achieve conformity in 10 steps.
1. Comply with Regulations and Supplier Agreements
To trade in certain markets, packaged food manufacturers need to comply with three main types of laws: food safety, weight and labeling. These regulations are supported by best practice codes of conduct where, upon certification, manufacturers have access to trade with retailers in specific countries. Ultimately, the packaged food must have completed steps 2–8 below. Certain types of products—notably dairy and meat—have additional legal requirements. On top of this, some international retailers have proprietary supplier agreements detailing further requests, such as taking action on sustainability plans.