To See or Not To See
To See or Not To See
3rd party inspection partners
Posted by Andrew Ward, Regional Sales Manager, Eurofins
In a world with limitless opportunities to envision, create, and bring to market, different types of food products, there is a genuine need for a buyer to have a 3rd party inspection partner.
A 3rd party inspection partner can help to ensure that the quality of the products being procured by the 2nd Party (the buyer) meet the quality and consistency expectations that the buyer has requested; food safety standards that are required or requested of the (vendor/manufacturer) can be validated or verified by 3rd party inspections too.
While one of the more common 3rd party inspections concerning food is a pre-shipment inspection (inspection, sampling, testing before shipping), there are other types of inspection that may also be requested from time-to-time and can be equally as valuable. The other types of inspection that can occur are pre-production, in-production, and post-shipment inspection. While each type of inspection is unique and offers different benefits to the buyer, the ultimate goal is the same, compliance to specifications and adherence to quality and food safety standards required or requested of the finished product.
In March 2020, the FDA put a temporary halt to routine surveillance inspections of food manufacturers as a result of COVID-19 and while many vendors and buyers will still play by the rules, the real problem is the few who will try to cheat and beat the system; fewer organizations inspecting food products means the increased risk of adulteration and, or foodborne illness. It is paramount to make sure that no corners are cut in the manufacturing, packaging, or transportation of food products and where the FDA and other regulatory agencies are limited in the inspection services that they can provide, the onus is on the buyer (2nd party) to make sure that they partner with a credible and reliable 3rd party inspection partner.
A manufacturer who knows that their product could be subjected to a 3rd party inspection is a manufacturer who is required to be that much more honest. A 3rd party inspection can influence a decision to buy or not to buy.
In the end, an inspection skipped can lead to brand damage, sickness, and in some cases death and so the best inspection is the inspection that actually takes place.
