When you work with food or handle food production, your company’s reputation and the safety of your customers are always on the line. You might already have a food testing program in place and feel like everything is under control. But over time, even the best systems can fall behind.
Food safety rules and testing methods change. New types of bacteria can show up, new technology becomes available and customer expectations grow. If you are still using the same procedures from years ago, there’s a good chance your testing program might be outdated.
Here are some signs that your food testing program needs to be upgraded.
1. Your Shelf Life Testing Services Haven’t Been Re-Evaluated
One of the first signs that your program needs attention is when your Shelf Life Testing Services haven’t been reviewed in a while. Maybe your products have changed, your packaging has improved, or you’re shipping to different locations now. All of these factors can affect how long your food stays safe.
If your shelf life data is more than a few years old, it’s probably time for an update. Relying on old results could lead to spoiled products or safety concerns before the “best by” date even arrives.
2. You’re Still Using Only Basic Tests
If your current program only looks at things like temperature checks or visual inspections, that’s a red flag. While those methods are useful, they won’t cause deeper problems like harmful bacteria or chemical contamination.
Today’s food environment is more complex, and your testing methods need to match. New testing tools can check for a wide range of threats more quickly and accurately than before. If you haven’t explored those options yet, your testing program might be missing key risks.
3. You’re Seeing More Customer Complaints
If people are reaching out with complaints about spoiled food, strange smells, or illnesses after eating your products, that’s a warning sign you shouldn’t ignore. Even if these issues don’t seem major at first, they could point to deeper problems in your safety program.
A rise in complaints often means the testing in place isn’t catching everything it should. Updating your methods can help catch these issues before they reach the customer.
4. Testing Results Are Inconsistent
When your test results vary a lot from batch to batch without any clear reason, that’s another clue something’s off. Maybe your staff isn’t following the process properly, or maybe the process itself isn’t clear enough.
In some cases, the tools you’re using might be outdated or no longer accurate. Regular updates to your program help make sure your results are dependable and that your staff knows exactly what steps to follow.
5. You’re Not Keeping Up with Regulations
Food safety rules don’t stay the same. Local laws, federal guidelines, and industry standards all get updated from time to time. If you haven’t checked your program against current regulations lately, you might be falling behind without even realizing it.
This could lead to failed inspections or legal issues. A modern, updated food testing program should always align with the latest rules.
