Richard F. Stier, M.S.

Every food processor, food handler, or other food operator under FDA jurisdiction should have a program in place to deal with an FDA inspection. This column explains what this program should include and how to work with FDA investigators during an inspection.

Preventive maintenance, which involves a great deal of documentation and recordkeeping, can be considered as the most complex and detailed of the essential prerequisite programs.

This article discusses how an operation should develop, document, implement, and maintain a program to properly manage the many chemicals that are used in food processing.

Processors must develop, document, implement, and maintain a protocol for how non-conforming products will be handled. The bottom line is to ensure that non-conforming product is not inadvertently shipped.

It is essential that food processors establish a properly documented pallet management program to prevent issues caused by improper pallet use, storage, inspection, maintenance, and cleaning.

Every food processor, handler, or warehouse operation must establish programs to ensure that workers and the business are protected in the event of a crisis that may affect plant operations.

This article discusses the fundamentals of a retain sample program, which ensures that production samples from each lot of product are retained onsite. These retained samples allow the manufacturing company to evaluate any customer complaints, conduct quality checks, and provide samples to evaluate in the event of a recall.

Calibration is really a verification activity. The goal of a calibration program is to ensure that all instruments used to monitor food safety, quality, and issues related to regulatory compliance have been properly calibrated and are operating effectively.

An internal audit is an intensive assessment of all elements making up the food safety management system. It helps determine if the system is effective and is being properly maintained.

The objective of a water quality and maintenance program is to ensure that the water is safe and is of the proper quality for each application.