Statistical Process Control for the Food Industry

3Quality and Safety in the Food Industry

3.1 Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the concepts and practices correlate with safety and quality in the food industry that is based on:

• Government regulations
• Requirements and expectations of customers and consumers

These regulations and requirement impacted the changes in food industry operations including significant developments in food quality and food safety activities. The continual efforts to the basic need of food quality and food safety influenced by numerous factors:

• Consumer expectations relating to various aspects of food (e.g. nutrition, convenience, additives)
• Incidents relating to food safety
• Environmental concerns
• Changes in government regulatory processes
• Traceability in food production and processing
• Technological changes
• Foods derived from biotechnology
• Irradiated foods
• Food security issues
• Organic foods
• Economic factors
• Issues relating to international trade

In every country, food business can be operated on different levels such as local, national, or multinational corporations, which use either intensive farming or industrial agriculture in maximising productivity.

Industry has adopted safety and quality systems that have been developed customised for the application of the food industry. The current environment of the industry is witness to the fact that food companies are committed to safety as they employ robust food safety programs that not only meet the requirements of the law, but also go ...