Uniform Compliance in Food Processing

All companies want what’s best for their business. To achieve that objective, it’s crucial for businesses to understand current laws and legislation that affect their company.

 

Part of that objective results from keeping food safe for the consumer by maintaining compliance with the appropriate regulators. A rental uniform and laundry supplier that provides clean and compliant uniforms for those in the food processing industry is an ideal piece of that puzzle.

 

 

WHAT IS COMPLIANCE?

 

First of all, compliance refers to a business’s obligation to obey all necessary legal laws and regulations that affect their industry. Being compliant by following the appropriate regulatory organizations is essential in protecting your business, your employees, and your customers.

 

OVERALL BENEFITS OF COMPLIANCE

Understanding the benefits of compliance will help you take advantage of everything compliance has to offer.

 

• Builds a Positive Reputation

A business thrives on a positive public image. Companies that fail to follow the law lose consumer trust, resulting in decreased customer loyalty and sales.

 

• Improved Product Quality

Compliance requirements aren’t meant to complicate a company’s activities, but are rather meant to create more effective techniques and operations. Following the requirements of a regulatory system positively leads to improved product quality.

 

• Increased Productivity

Employees are more productive when they feel safe and protected, as well as when the company they work for is viewed favorably by the public.

 

• Increased Clarity

Compliance forces businesses to have accurate documentation of activities. This documentation is helpful for a business to clearly see what’s happening in the company, which also helps to make better and more informed decisions.

 

• Realization of Company’s Mission

Corporate sustainability is important to most businesses, and compliance helps a company to act in ways consistent with those values.

 

• Attracts Talented Employees

Employers that follow laws and regulations prove they have strong values, and therefore have a positive reputation. Job seekers hunt for businesses that

 

• Avoidance of Fines

Failure to comply to laws often comes with penalties. Businesses may have to pay stiff fines to compensate for their noncompliance.

 

• Avoidance of Criminal Charges

Depending on the nature of the act, not adhering to the law can also cause criminal prosecution.

 

HACCP COMPLIANCE

 

Particular to food processing, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is one regulatory system that supports that necessary protection.

 

HACCP is a specific process required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for most companies in the food processing industry including meat and poultry, juice, and seafood. HACCP is a food safety management system that addresses hazards in the production of food, from raw material procurement and handling, manufacturing, distribution, and final consumption.

 

Companies that follow the principles of HACCP are able to ensure the safety of food by focusing on systematic identification of hazards that aid in prevention rather than testing a product at the end of the process.

 

THE ROLE OF UNIFORMS

Part of maintaining HACCP requirements includes maintaining food safe uniforms that reduce the incidence of cross contamination. This means uniforms must not only have food safe characteristics (no buttons, no pockets, and durable fabric), but it also means that uniforms must be clean, safe, and always readily available.

 

PARTNERING WITH CITY

 

Hygienically Clean

Partnering with a uniform and laundry provider that is Hygienically Clean Food Safety certified is one way to ensure you have clean, safe uniforms. With this certification, CITY produces garments with zero presence of harmful bacteria, maintains properly trained and protected employees, operates a HACCP-minded facility with a quality management system, and undergoes routine third-party inspection.

 

Uniform Tracking Technology

Furthermore, our ultra-high frequency (UHF) garment tracking technology enables us to specialize in providing uniforms that are HACCP compliant. We document uniforms through every step of the laundering process and can ensure exact inventory levels, appropriate soil separation to eliminate cross contamination, and detailed reporting of the garment’s life cycle including the number of washings, mends, and repairs.

 

“CITY’s investments in updated equipment and facility improvements show that they have both the capacity and technology to serve our needs,” said Terry Lynn Friesth, business development analyst for Prestage Foods of Iowa in Eagle Grove, Iowa.

 

Emergency Inventory

Because we can track all of our uniforms, and therefore provide accurate inventory levels, our food processing clients receive the benefits of our emergency inventory program. Clients receive extra inventory that is kept on-site at their business so that they never have to worry about running out of clean, compliant uniforms. In addition, our clients only pay for the uniforms that they use instead of paying for the entire inventory. Our exclusive inventory-based billing approach is unique to the industry.

 

“Because of our unique billing, it really sets us apart from our competition because it allows us to make sure that our clients have what they need at no extra cost,” Service Manager Ken Schnor said. “But with traditional billing, they will pay for at least half of their inventory regardless of whether they use it or not.”

 

IN CONCLUSION

 

Just like our food processing clients, we take food safety seriously. Partner with us today and see how we can help you achieve HACCP compliance with not only a safe and compliant rental uniform and laundry program, but also how we can provide you with a innovative vendor that strives for high quality and service.

 

 

To learn more about CITY food safety, please see our extensively detailed white paper or visit our hygienically clean page.