September is National Food Safety Education Month. Each year, an estimated 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating contaminated food. Proper food preparation, handling, and...
Recent reports about rodents sold for food in markets and restaurants in Southeast Asia being infected with coronaviruses may have heightened concern about rodents transmitting the virus. During the COVID-19 lockdown, there have been many cases...
During the COVID-19 pandemic, food processing facilities remain open for operation while many other non-essential businesses are required to close their doors. Since customers want to buy food from a source they know is safe, many...
No matter how spotless a food processing facility appears to be, high-flying and low-lying food dust warrant several causes for concern. If allowed to accumulate, this dust not only poses a safety hazard, it can also...
For food and beverage processors, third-party audits are a part of doing business today. Preparing for an audit, whether it be BRC, SQF, AIB, FSSC22000, or even a customer audit, can be a time-consuming process. It...
Technology has found its way into almost every industry with the hopes of automating processes, maintaining standards, and securing consistency. The food industry is no exception. Threats of contamination, bacteria, and intentional adulteration are on the...
Let’s face it, flies are filthy creatures that have caused problems for mankind for centuries. This pest can be anything from a simple annoyance to a vector of disease. According to Penn State University’s Department of...
Pests are sneaky – they can invade at any time, creating potential contamination concerns, audit and shutdown risks, and a general headache for any operator. Knowing what to anticipate would help operators get ahead of potential...
German cockroaches were once the number one pest in commercial buildings. Advances in cockroach baiting and our understanding of how to treat for these pests has improved over the years. Therefore, problems aren’t nearly as prevalent...
The Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella) is one of the many types of stored product insects encountered in certain commercial facilities, such as food processing. Attracted to light, they will fly inside in search of stored,...