Author Archives: awarefluence@gmail.com

The answer is not always training. Let’s explore why ⬇️ Food safety procedures are in place to protect consumers, ensure compliance, and maintain product integrity. Yet, companies often find that employees do not consistently follow these procedures, even when training has been provided. What is causing these lapses, and how can companies address them? Why…

Repeated non-conformities in food safety audits raise questions about where processes break down. Even businesses with well-documented processes and trained teams often see the same issues appearing repeatedly. What is causing these issues to persist, and how can businesses reduce their occurrence? Common Reasons for Recurring Non-Conformities ???? Failure to Address Previous Findings When corrective…

Recent figures from the NVWA (the Dutch Food Safety Authority) provide insight into the most frequent causes of product recalls in the Netherlands. Data shows that microbiological contamination, undeclared allergens, labeling errors, and foreign material contamination continue to pose significant challenges for food manufacturers. These issues highlight ongoing gaps in food safety management that, if…

Amid evolving challenges and increased regulatory oversight, numerous enterprises globally encounter substantial obstacles in establishing effective, goal-driven risk management within their supply chains. The IFS Supply Chain Processes Check of IFS – International Featured Standards tackles these issues by offering a structured evaluation of supply chain management systems. It is an innovative tool designed to…

The European Union is set to enforce new regulations on plastic food contact materials, with updated requirements taking effect from 16 March 2025. These amendments introduce stricter purity standards, migration limits, and labelling obligations for both virgin and recycled plastics. For food businesses, this means increased scrutiny over the materials used in packaging and food…

Let’s understand the risks of food fraud in today’s supply chain. The food industry is under constant pressure to maintain transparency, authenticity, and safety. However, recent cases of mislabelled ingredients, counterfeit certifications, and economically motivated adulteration have revealed weaknesses in global supply chains. Food fraud does not only result in financial losses but can also…

Can a pattern of repeated non-conformities point to a deeper leadership issue? In recent audit cycles, global data has shown that many companies continue to receive the same findings across internal, second-party, and third-party audits. These are not technical oversights or gaps in knowledge. They are signals that internal ownership of food safety responsibilities may…

You’ve hired a professional pest control service. You’ve got monthly visits. You even have the invoice to prove it. So why do pest control programmes continue to appear in non-conformity reports during food safety audits? The issue isn’t just the presence of pests, it’s the absence of documentation, verification, and clear responsibilities. In recent audits…

Root cause analysis (RCA) is often treated as a basic corrective action step, yet weak or incomplete RCA remains one of the most frequent findings during food safety audits. When the true cause of a non-conformity is not fully understood, the same issue tends to return, costing time, trust, and compliance. A review of recent…