IMPORTANCE OF COLOR CODING SYSTEM: to ensure Food Safety ✝️ A color-coding system in a food facility can help prevent cross-contamination from allergens, chemicals, & unwanted foreign bodies ✔️ A simple, well-implemented color-coding system can benefit a food establishment in many ways & virtually any food production facility CAN be color-coded. ✔️ Many food processors already use color-coded segregation of areas & equipment as part of their Good Manufacturing Practices & as a proactive step in risk reduction as part of their HACCP pre-requisite program ✝️ British Retail Consortium [BRC] have their food safety standard BRC v.8 specific requirements on cleaning equipment in section 4.11.6 it specified that cleaning equipment shall be: hygenically designed & fit for purpose, suitably identified for intended use(eg color coded or labelled), cleaned & stored in hygienic manner to prevent contamination ✔️ The other major GFSI based food safety schemes (SQF v8, FSSC 22000 v4.1 & IFS v6.1) specify the need for cross-contact & cross contamination controls 🔥 ✝️ There are several different types of basic color coding plans: ✔️ zone color coding ✔️ assembly process color coding ✔️ shift color coding ✔️ allergen color coding ✝️ The Allergen plan type is the most relevant for food establishments. It designates 2 colors: one for the handling & cleaning tools & food safe wearable that come in contact with the identified allergen, and a second color for those that don't ✝️ Generally, a color-coding plan has many BENEFITS: ✔️ a safer staff & product ✔️ a more hygienic facility ✔️ better tool longevity ✔️ stronger food safety culture ✝️ THE DO & DON'TS ✔️ keep the plan as simple as possible ✔️ pick logical colors per area ✔️ avoid complicated color combinations ✔️ roll out the color coding program all at once ✔️ good communication is key ✔️ reinforce the color-coding with good signages ✔️ be sure your tools & storage areas match ✔️ color-coding plan & equipment maintenance ✔️ follow through & document ✝️ With proper implementation, , color-coding can be an effective & easily understood way of minimizing cross contamination ✔️ As always, train, train, & train on the plan : 🌳 as you roll it out 🌳 as you gain new employees 🌳 refresher training, to ensure it works well for everyone & is second nature for your team ✝️ If your facility does not have a color coding plan, it is high time it gets implemented. ✔️ Protect your brand & reputation Get started TODAY Our team can assist: info@haccpacademy.com.ng #colorcodingsystem #foodsafety #processors #sme #fao #usaid #norfund #restaurants #productcontamination #allergens #foodcontamination #hospitality #smedan #nepc #retail