With consumers all around the world currently on high alert when it comes to personal health and safety, there has never been a more critical time for food and beverage organisations to triple check their cross-contamination and hygiene protocols and ensure rigorous quality control is performed.

A  recent survey  by a risk management and quality assurance insights firm, found that food safety was a top concern for the majority of the 4,500 participants, while environment and social aspects were considered of less importance in regards to food purchase choices. It’s expected that this increased concern won’t disappear once a vaccine is found, but will likely continue long after the pandemic is over. Consumers are highly aware of their health and safety, and will be unlikely to hesitate switching brands if they believe one to be safer than the other.

So with the expectation that food safety will be an even higher priority in the years to come, this highlights the significant role that Quality Control and Quality Assurance practices will play for food and beverage companies moving forward.

Here, we look at some of the challenges facing this area of the industry and how it’s changed since COVID-19.

Food supply chain challenges

An area where control and assurance will likely need to be strengthened is that of food production that relies heavily on imported ingredients. With international transport dramatically reduced in this current situation, food and beverage manufacturers may have  delayed or interrupted supply chains  that may pose food safety concerns and could demand increased inspection and controls.

As a result of increased transportation times and possible shipment delays, it will be more important than ever for employers to ensure a rigorous quality control process to assess the safety of produce and ingredients.

Pivoting products

Many Australian food and beverage manufacturers have seen this time as an opportunity to  pivot their product offering , either because they are struggling to access their usual ingredients or they have identified they are able to fill a gap in the market and are adapting to meet consumer demand. In this way, companies may be quickly manufacturing products they may not have previously developed, seeing the use of ingredients or materials that they are also unfamiliar with.

It will be critical in these instances to have professional quality assurance and quality control staff enlisted to assess new suppliers and products to ensure they adhere to the Australian standards and those of the organisation.

Maintaining product integrity

As a result of the disruption caused by coronavirus, some companies may need to change suppliers, or certain ingredients if they are unavailable or unreliable due to interruptions in transport or imports. With new suppliers there is always a risk.

Where a food business uses an approved ingredient that has the same technical function as a previously available ingredient, it takes time to minimise safety concerns, such as allergen labelling and traceability requirements.

Despite the speed at which many food and beverage companies are needing to adapt and change, a quality assurance and quality control employees will be under more pressure to ensure the integrity of the product is not jeopardised and that food labelling does not mislead the consumer. It is essential to maintain consumer trust during these already difficult times.

Build an organisational culture of food safety

According to  the World Health organisation , 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people globally – fall ill and an estimated 420,000 die from foodborne disease and contamination. And while  it is highly unlikely that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging , consumers are likely to remain on high alert about food safety well into the future. In order for food and beverage manufacturers to maintain the public’s trust, it will be vital to continually review and reflect on food safety management systems and food safety culture within your organisation.

Building and/or maintaining a strong safety program will begin in the hiring process, with hiring managers looking for high-performing candidates for Quality Assurance and Quality Control positions who display an understanding of, and value, the importance of food safety.

If you are looking for professional talent within the food and beverage industry, contact us today and speak with one of our Consultants.