In March 2024, the 21st AECOC Food Safety and Quality Congress took place, where the importance of using digital forms in food quality to improve traceability, reduce errors and strengthen food safety throughout the production chain was highlighted.
The event discussed the new challenges facing the sector and focused on the digital transformation of quality control. The “re-evolution” of the food safety model was one of the central themes of the event, highlighting the need to adopt technological solutions that optimize processes.
Clearer and more effective precautionary labeling
One of the most relevant topics of the congress was the lack of clarity in Regulation 1169/2011 on food information provided to consumers. Currently, there is no unified criterion on the adventitious presence of allergens and their precautionary labeling, which generates confusion for both companies and consumers.
Codex Alimentarius, the reference body for food safety, is working on a standard for precautionary allergen labeling (PAL). This effort seeks to define when and how the possible presence of trace allergens should be indicated, reducing food alerts and facilitating decision-making.
In this context, having digital tools to accurately manage and update allergen information is key to ensuring consumer safety.
Food alerts: a communication problem
During the event, more than 240 industry executives were surveyed, revealing that 39.42% of food alerts for off-label allergens are due to a lack of communication or updates on raw material changes.
To avoid these errors, it is essential to have a digitized data capture and management system that allows the integration of information from suppliers and manufacturers in real time.
FIELDEAS Forms facilitates this process through digital forms, allowing:
- Automate alerts when discrepancies are detected in raw material analysis.
- Generate immediate reports that improve traceability and quality control.
With this solution, critical data is recorded and distributed efficiently, improving transparency and minimizing the risk of labeling information failure.
Towards more effective food safety risk management
Zero risk in food safety does not exist, but it is possible to improve its management. Despite controls, every year there are alerts for the presence of pathogens in foods that have passed all previous tests.
The current approach, based on the detection of point hazards, must evolve towards a more advanced risk assessment model. To this end, it is proposed:
- Exceed the critical limits established by legislation with more precise quantitative analyses.
- Classify lots according to the actual risk level, not only by the presence of pathogens in isolated tests.
- Implement digital tools to ensure data-driven decision making.
With FIELDEAS Forms, companies can digitize the batch sorting process, ensuring tighter control and reducing the margin of error.
Artificial intelligence: an ally for food safety
The food industry is beginning to explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve product quality and safety. In this regard, AI is being applied in:
- Demand forecasting and new product development.
- Early detection of food hazards.
- Data analysis for more agile and accurate decision making.
For these systems to be truly effective, it is essential to have quality data. This is wheredigital forms for food quality play a key role, as they allow you to capture and organize information in a structured way, feeding AI models with reliable, real-time data.
Transform your food quality management with FIELDEAS Forms
The digitization of quality and food safety controls is a growing need in the industry. FIELDEAS Forms allows you to digitize and automate processes, ensuring efficient and error-free management.
Some of the main benefits of FIELDEAS smart forms are:
- Customizable digital forms adapted to every need.
- Elimination of manual data entry errors.
- No waiting time, instantly updated information.
- Integration with corporate systems for a global vision of the activity.
- Guaranteed security in data transmission and storage.
With an intuitive and accessible platform, FIELDEAS Forms empowers work teams, facilitating seamless data collection and management. In addition, its integration with multiple software systems allows optimizing processes without affecting the operational flow of the company.
