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Allergens are a big problem. In the past, there were only a few known allergens, but now there are thousands and they can trigger food allergy reactions. Allergies are on the rise and there is a need for better allergy management in the workplace especially food processing plants. For many companies, this means an overhaul of their production processes to ensure that food processed in their facility is safe for people with food allergies. Below are some simple steps you can take to improve allergen management in the workplace.

Review your color coding policy

Visual management is proven to be the most effective and efficient method of communication. This is especially true if you have high staff turnover, seasonal staff, or have a high proportion of staff for whom English is not their first language. Color coding is a universal language. Introducing a color coded system will help prevent cross contamination. We carry 11 different colors of cleaning and food safety tools, to make this exercise easier if you need to implement this action. Educating staff about how to prevent contamination by using the right tools will help ensure the safety of your customers and the reputation of your business.

Stop utensils wandering

Over 65% of minor non-cormances in some of the most widely recognized audits relate to the care of small hygiene and production utensils! As we know, it is very easy to “borrow” something from another department because someone else “borrowed” your one and didn’t put it back. The solution to this is to provide highly visible storage or shadow boards for all the utensils used in an area, as close as possible to the point of use. Make it part of your SOP’s that all utensils need to be present and accounted for on their own board, before signing off at the end of a shift.

Have designated Spill Stations

In the event of an allergen spill, the first priorities must always be containment, removal and damage limitation. An integral part of this is in having dedicated allergen clean-up kits available, which can only be used for this purpose. Most factories that use glass packaging will have dedicated glass clean-up kits positioned strategically around the site. Why not an allergen one? When compared to glass, allergens can be just as deadly to the consumer, and just as damaging to your business.

The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and should not be construed as legal advice.