A COVID Safety Checklist for budding MSMEs amidst the pandemic |
Posted: July 23, 2020 |
With the onset of the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown, the food business industry saw many ups & downs. Amidst the sudden full-stop for many big brand names, a bunch of local Micro, Small & Medium Food Enterprises saw a steep rise in demand as well as support from the government. It also seems the unlock and the post-COVID India will further guarantee the steady rise of such enterprises. So here is a checklist to help MSMEs help mark themselves COVID-Safe & Compliant to the various standards of India’s Food Industry. From FSSAI License to Food testing in Mumbai, we’ve got everything covered.
The registration and licensing of food businesses in India are governed by its apex food regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. FSSAI Registration is a basic license and it is required for all the FBO involved in the small-scale food business.
Food Testing involves a bunch of tests that determine the quality & standards of one’s food product and help the manufacturers to comply with FSSAI standards & better their product.
Under the regulations of the Indian nutritional labeling act, it has now become a mandatory aspect of every processed food product’s packaging.
An essential step before launching or modification of any food/beverage product. Shelf-life is determined using two different types of tests; accelerated & normal, and helps manufacturers define ‘best before’ & ‘use by’ dates for consumers.
Sensory Analysis helps manufacturers and marketers in the decision-making process by precisely evaluating a consumer’s food or beverage based on the senses like sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing, and feelings.
Hygiene Audits form a crucial point in the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) of any FBO identifying the level of compliance with FSSAI basic food safety and hygiene standards. They ensure; an extensive inspection of your food processing facility, Identify any possible loopholes in the company’s FSMS, help establish an absolute Food Safety Management System, reduce the risk of manufacturing substandard products & promote a healthy brand reputation.
Being one of the most essential services, the food industry has to take special precautions to stay safe from the Coronavirus. The regulator, in order to ensure the same, introduced a mandatory ‘Awareness Training’ under its FoSTaC program.
Many Food & Hygiene auditing companies have introduced COVID safety audits to help food businesses put into place and test COVID safety measures & standards. India’s Largest Auditing Company, Equinox Labs, has introduced a special COVID Safety Audit that defines the various COVID safety measures and audits the processes to certify your facility as COVID-prepared. There are also many other initiatives like Safe Place to Eat, Hygiene Quotient, Hygiene Rating, etc. that can help in not just ensuring but also a certifying COVID-safety.
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