The top priority for any food manufacturer is to deliver high-quality food products that are safe for human consumption. In today’s rapidly evolving food sector, processors face intense competition, changes in consumer trends and purchasing patterns, and stricter regulatory pressures, as well as fluctuating costs of ingredients and ever-expanding product SKUs.
One thing is for certain: Consumers no longer tolerate inconsistences in their food products, and neither does the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The consequences of a food pack containing an amount that is different to what is stipulated on the packaging can be serious, particularly for consumers of weight loss, “free-from” and infant foods. Detrimental effects can range from costly, brand-damaging recalls, to adverse, life-threatening reactions that could shut down a food business. In regions where weights and measures standards are stricter, intentionally and knowingly distributing underweight products could be deemed fraud.