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So, you think you have a food recipe that the whole world wants and
you are considering marketing it. If so, then this guide will provide
you with essential information, laws, regulations, and guidelines for
starting a food processing business. Starting a food processing
business is not simple. It is time consuming, costly, and most of all,
it requires careful planning, dedication and skilled management to be
successful. The food business is unique as compared to other types of
businesses. Your food products have a direct effect on your customer’s
health and safety. Foods that are improperly processed, or
contaminated could have the potential to cause serious illness or even
death. So, it is vital to establish strict safety rules and practices.
Doing so not only enables your business to comply with laws and
regulations, but it also adds to the reputation of your business for
producing the most clean and safest food.
Food Safety
Beside drugs, food is the substance that we put directly into our
bodies and it has the potential to cause great harm or even death if
contaminated with food-borne pathogens, chemicals, radiological, or
physical agents. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
estimates that food-borne disease causes 76 million illnesses and
5,000 deaths in the United States annually. Food can be contaminated
at any stage of production, from raw materials to finished products.
Fresh meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products may be contaminated with
food-borne pathogens; ingredients can support microbial growth; fresh
fruit and vegetables may be surface contaminated with bacteria,
parasites, viruses and/or mold. For this reason both the finished
product as well as the ingredients must meet quality standards. They
must be stored at proper temperatures to minimize the growth of
microorganisms; processed to the recommended time and temperature to
kill food-borne pathogens, and bacteria; packaged in clean containers
and under conditions that minimize contamination and they must be
properly stored until shipping to preserve product quality.
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