How to Determine the Shelf-Life of a Product with FSMS Certification

You are aware of the importance of product freshness and safety in your food business. Shelf-life informs you about how safe and pleasant it is to eat a product. Not only is it a label, but it is also a reflection of your customer's trust in you. FSMS certification comes in there. It enables you to manage food safety and compliance more effectively. With an organised system of food safety management, you can detect possible problems in the early stages and provide the same high quality to all products that you introduce to the market.

What Does Product Shelf-Life Mean?

Shelf-life is the duration during which a food product is safe to eat without compromising its quality. It is based on the ingredients, packaging, production process, and storage conditions. Use-by, sell-by, and best-before dates are among the labels that help you convey this information to customers. Shelf-life knowledge also helps protect your business from the risks of spoilage and food waste. Knowing the duration your product remains fresh, you can make more informed production decisions and ensure food safety throughout the entire production process, from production to delivery.

The Role of FSMS Certification in Shelf-Life Determination

FSMS, or Food Safety Management System, can help you manage food safety hazards throughout your supply chain. You can also logically plan and control risks with HACCP with FSMS accreditation. It will ensure that your business meets global standards, such as ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000. This certification will demonstrate your commitment to producing safe food and adhering to compliance standards. It also enhances traceability, ensuring your customers are assured that your food products meet high safety standards.

Methods to Determine the Shelf-Life of a Product

Direct Method

The direct method is tested in real-time and under favourable storage conditions. You can track sensory characteristics, such as taste, odour, and appearance, to determine the duration of product safety. Under this, good food safety management is achieved through adherence to prerequisite programmes (PRP) in food manufacturing. It assists in managing food safety and monitoring the alterations in the life of the product.

Accelerated Shelf-Life Testing

This technique accelerates testing by exposing samples to greater temperature, humidity, or pH levels to simulate artificial long-term storage conditions. The outcomes help in computing the actual shelf life after applying set algorithms. It can be easily integrated into management systems that utilise hazard analysis, critical control, and corrective actions to establish a robust food safety management system with the relevant prerequisite programmes in place.

Why ISO 22000 and FSSC 22000 Matter for Shelf-Life Management

The ISO 22000 certification provides a solid foundation for effective food safety management. It will enable you to integrate quality and safety processes into a single system. Being certified under ISO 22000 implies that you meet the highest global standards in food safety risk management. FSSC 22000 is another measure of assurance that is recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). All of these certifications will enable you to have a more reliable and transparent operation, allowing you to control shelf life more carefully and maintain the trust of your customers.

Benefits of an ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System

There are numerous benefits of having an ISO 22000 food safety management system. It helps you avoid contamination, enhance control procedures, and ensure compliance. You are able to identify risks at an earlier stage, implement corrective measures quickly, and guarantee food safety at all levels. 

Your business will remain the same in terms of quality and minimise waste since it is supported by a structured management system. More importantly, it would enable your customers to believe that your products are safe, of high quality, and meet global standards of food manufacturing and handling.

How FSMS Certification Supports Food Businesses in Singapore

FSMS certification in Singapore is a competitive requirement for the food industry. It will help you comply with strict local and international food safety standards. With an organised system of management in force, your food products are safeguarded from production up to delivery. It also enhances efficiency in the operations and reduces the chances of recalls. In the case of local enterprises, certification of FSMS or ISO 22000 helps to gain the trust of users and business partners, and it is easier to enter and operate in new markets without fear.

Partner with CMM Food Consultancy

At CMM Food Consultancy, we have over 20 years of experience in various fields of the food industry. Such experience makes us realise what your product must remain to be safe and fresh. We are able to determine the shelf-life of your product and suggest the best method of testing. If you want to be certified to FSMS or to be compliant with ISO 22000, we will make the process easier. Call us now to find out how we can assist you in knowing your product's shelf-life, as well as in enhancing your food safety system.

Build Confidence with a Certified Food Safety Management System

Managing and knowing the shelf life of your product is the main reason to ensure your business is strong and dependable. Having FSMS certification and a robust food safety management system, you can ensure that your products remain safe and compliant. It also establishes customer confidence and demonstrates the quality in your mind. 

When you are ready to move to the next level of your food safety standards, we can collaborate to avert any risk, prepare your products, and grow your business.

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