Ten years ago, in January of 2011, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law. The message from lawmakers was clear, responding to outbreaks of foodborne illness was not enough for food manufacturers; they had to become proactive in preventing outbreaks from happening. In the ten years since then, everyone along the supply chain has had to alter the way they go to business in order to comply with the new FDA standards.
As a supplier of components and services to food manufacturers, CBT has seen many innovations that are now commonplace within food plants. Motors, gearboxes, bearings, and enclosures are now offered with IP69k rated washdown capabilities for food plant sanitation teams. New, more cleanable belt materials, that are both metal and x-ray detectable, have come into the market. Even improved lighting technologies have been introduced that enable plants to limit bacteria and virus growth around the clock.
What does the future hold for FSMA? In April of 2019, the FDA introduced the New Era of Smarter Food Safety. This initiative was designed by the FDA to create a more digital, traceable, and safer food system. One aspect of the FDA’s effort is to encourage the industry’s sensor technology use to monitor critical and preventative control points. Food manufacturing plants are going to need a robust network to comply with this initiative. CBT’s partner Rockwell Automation has the technology that will be critical for the food plant of the future.
As the FSMA requirements become more embedded in the global food system, our goal is to continually work together to create a more traceable food system. A system that advances food safety and improves consumers’ quality of life, both domestically and globally.
Your CBT account managers and specialists are continually training on the latest technology so that we, along with our trusted partners, can ensure our food and beverage customers are producing safe products for consumers.
Chat with Larry in person about the latest in Food & Beverage technology at our upcoming Centennial Showcase.
