In July of 2020, the FDA released “The New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint” with the goal of creating a safer, more transparent food system. This new approach to food safety comes on the heels of the COVID-19 crisis and at the cusp of what the FDA calls “a food revolution,” as production methods are evolving and manufacturers are embracing digitalization. It calls for a heavier reliance on technologies to modernize, enforce traceability, and drive efficiency across the industry. The push also encourages food and beverage companies to not only leverage digital solutions, but to weave them into their culture as a means of keeping the American food supply safe.

For many food and beverage companies, paper documentation, binders, and filing cabinets cause frustration and waste valuable time. Chelan Fruit, the largest fruit packing co-op in the US, felt the challenges of using a paper-based system firsthand and sought a more efficient way of doing things. Here, discover how their company successfully transitioned its entire food safety program to a paperless system using SafetyChain.

Achieving audit-readiness and regulatory compliance are two of the most complex challenges the food industry faces. For Sokol and Company, a food products supplier with a vast product line, keeping up with new FSMA regulations and preparing for audits was daunting, and introduced a need for a new food safety management solution.

When it comes to choosing food safety and quality assurance software, it’s important to know that no two software solutions are the same. We’ve assembled a list of top questions asked by seasoned IT professionals from some of the leading food companies in North America. To make it easy to identify the best FSQA software solution for your plant and compare solutions, be sure to ask the following:

The role that technology leaders hold in F&B operations is changing. Here’s why, and what it means for IT and the future of food companies.

Trend: IT Is Now Innovating Operations

IT’s role in food manufacturing companies has always been critical, but not always directly connected to operational strategy. Even though IT leaders and managers are highly-valued and skilled problem-solvers, their roles in the past have often been tied to business infrastructure. But now, the emergence of technology in food safety, compliance, and operations is changing that. A new, innovative trend is connecting IT and FSQA leaders as they work together to completely transform their operations with technology.