Staying Ahead of New and Evolving Ingredient Regulations
The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent announcement regarding plans to phase out certain petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply is likely top of mind for food and beverage manufacturers. While specifics around this regulation and compliance are in their infancy, one thing is clear – change is on the horizon for food and beverage manufacturers, and it is advantageous to start preparing now as requirements are taking shape.
Looking to the Past to Anticipate Operational Impacts
Any time state or federal governments pass new food safety regulations, change will inevitably ripple across the plant floor. At Polytron, we view change as an opportunity to evolve processes, operations, and products. Through our deep expertise in food and beverage operations, we can help make a difference for manufacturers trying to get ahead of these forthcoming changes.
After decades of experience supporting manufacturers through major regulatory shifts, such as changes resulting from the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), we understand what it takes to evolve processes and operations while keeping quality, safety, and efficiency at the forefront. From installing new process systems and modifying existing ones, to updating batching processes, recipe management systems, or even packaging formats, we are here to help manufacturers plan strategically, act decisively, and minimize disruption.
Building Resilient Systems for a New Era
Successful adaptation to new regulations isn’t just about swapping out ingredients; it’s about building resilient systems that can flex with future changes as well. For some companies, future adaptations may be as simple as adding a few new ingredient tanks and reprogramming batch sequences. For others, the path may involve rethinking entire product lines or packaging configurations. Whatever changes are needed, we have the skills to help manufacturers respond quickly and confidently with resilient systems that are ready to tackle upcoming regulatory changes.
Tapping into Decades of Food and Beverage Manufacturing Experience
Throughout the last four decades, Polytron has helped many Fortune 500 and mid-tier manufacturers alike navigate both minor and major industry shifts. Looking back again on the FSMA, which reshaped the industry’s approach to food safety, we partnered with many companies to implement changes and perform work to navigate and comply with major regulatory shifts.
For example, for one national beverage manufacturer we first developed a batching system that made it easy to add and modify recipes and provided a highly accurate ingredient tracking system for their complex recipes. Then, three years later, when new regulations necessitated drastic changes to all the manufacturers’ recipes, we helped the company install several new 20,000-gallon storage tanks for new ingredients and made necessary updates to their batching methods, recipes, and control systems.
We also have extensive experience helping food and beverage manufacturers with a variety of other critical projects to improve operations or comply with various regulations including:
- Upgrading existing batch systems for greater flexibility
- Developing an automated track and trace solution that tracks material information from ingredient supplier to finished product
- Implementing nationwide packaging system upgrades
Looking Forward Together
While the industry waits for more details on the phase-out of synthetic dyes to unfold, one thing is becoming clear – this is likely just the beginning of a broader movement toward ingredient transparency and the use of healthier ingredients. Therefore, manufacturers who act early will be better positioned to lead in this new landscape. At Polytron, we're ready to be your partner on this journey. Check out our extensive food and beverage industry experience and then let’s have a conversation about how you can prepare today for the changes and opportunities of tomorrow.
