9cannabisbusinessinsights.comNOVEMBER 2024For individuals involved in plant-based food safety, professional development should be encouraged to remain adaptive and resilient in the face of evolving challengessome novel plant-based products and processes. This ensures products are thoroughly examined before being released to the market. This helps catch any potential safety issues before they reach consumers. In addition, conducting challenge studies where contaminants or stressors are intentionally introduced to assess how well the product and the manufacturing process can withstand such challenges could be key to preventing food safety and spoilage concerns.Training and Awareness: Personnel involved in plant-based product manufacturing should receive adequate training on food safety practices. This includes understanding the unique considerations related to plant-based ingredients and production processes. It is crucial to establish awareness programs that help keep employees informed about the specific challenges and requirements associated with maintaining the food safety of PBMAs, especially when manufactured in shared facilities with animal proteins. Audits (GFSI, Supplier, and Internal Audits): It is critical to develop specific auditing criteria based on risk assessments and to conduct regular audits. This is important for evaluating and verifying the effectiveness of the food safety management system, which involves systematic inspections and assessments of all relevant processes and documentation. Audits provide opportunities for continuous improvement by identifying areas that can be enhanced to further ensure product safety. Some GFSI schemes now offer plant-based certification programs such as BRCGS Plant-Based Standard, which can be added to any GFSI benchmarked Food Standard. Product and Marketing Claims: Product and marketing claims should align with regulations to prevent misleading information about plant-based products' safety or nutritional aspects. It's essential to provide accurate and transparent information to consumers to build trust and help them make informed decisions regarding the safety and authenticity of plant-based alternatives.Global Market Nuances: Acknowledging and navigating international market nuances involves staying informed about different regions' diverse regulations, standards, and cultural expectations. Subsequently, adapting the food safety management system components to align with those variations ensures that plant-based product offerings meet the specific safety requirements of each market. An area of focus is the fortification of PBMAs with added micronutrients. It's important to check for the mandatory inclusion of certain nutrients in some destination markets or the lack of approval for using the same nutrients in PBMAs in other markets. Continuous education is necessary to navigate the dynamic landscape of food safety. This involves staying updated on emerging risks, technological advancements, and industry best practices. For individuals involved in plant-based food safety, professional development should be encouraged to remain adaptive and resilient in the face of evolving challenges. By integrating these considerations into the manufacturing process, PBMA producers can uphold the highest food safety standards, meeting both regulatory requirements and consumer expectations.
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