We know that your main goal is to transport your product in the fastest, most efficient way. But it's important to make sure that you are in compliance with the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), while delivering to your customers. This not only benefits you because you are in compliance, but it is in the best interest of your customers and business reputation.

So what is the FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act? This is an Act that was set forth in 2011, which prioritizes preventing food safety crises instead of reacting to them. It enables the FDA to enforce rules and regulations that are made to ensure food safety. "The FSMA rules are designed to make clear specific actions that must be taken at each of these points to prevent contamination."

How do you need to be in compliance?

1. Vehicles & Equipment

The design and maintenance of vehicles and transportation equipment to ensure that it does not cause food to become unsafe; must be suitable and adequately cleanable for intended use and capable of maintaining safe temperatures.

2. Records

Carriers must maintain records of written procedures, agreements and training for a period of 12 months beyond when the agreements and procedures are in use in their transportation operations.

3. Transport Operations

Measures taken during transportation for food safety; adequate temperature controls, preventing contamination and protection of food from cross-contact:

• Shippers: Provide written procedures that describe how you conduct your operations to ensure that food does not become unsafe during transportation.
• Loader: Determine equipment is in appropriate sanitary condition for the transport of the food and has been properly pre-cooled.
• Carriers: Ensure equipment meets shipper’s specifications, temperature has been maintained, pre-cool as specified, written procedures for compliance.

4. Training

Provide adequate training to personnel when hired and as needed for food transportation operations; potential food safety problems during transport, sanitary transport practices, carrier responsibilities.

PLM will always help you ensure that your fleet is compliant with FSMA. Learn more: Refrigerated Fleet Safety & Compliance | PLM Fleet