On Alert: Nut Recalls in 2024
Seeing an industry in the headlines can be a boon, but in the case of nuts over the past several months, it's quite the opposite. Recalls in walnuts, peanuts, and mixed nuts have splashed newsfeeds multiple times since the start of 2024, and many of the red flags are tied together with a familiar thread - listeria contamination.
Due to the way nuts are harvested, handled, and stored, they are particularly susceptible to contamination by pathogens. Not only is there exposure to potentially contaminated water and soil during growing and harvesting, the large-batch nature of processing and storage opens a window for a once-small contamination issue to grow rapidly. Add to these factors a common lack of an effective kill step to remove harmful bacteria, and vulnerable populations may be at risk.
Recall Prevention & Early Detection
Establishing a strong risk management program and having access to thorough corrective action procedures is key when solving the problem presented by not only listeria contamination, but exposure to salmonella and other recall-inducing adulterants.
Incomplete Sanitation Tasks
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Intuitive, automated task management includes reminders for operators and overdue notices for managers.
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Timestamps ensure records are not pencil-whipped or backdated.
Staff Mistakes in Sanitation or Sampling
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SOPs and visual instructions are embedded in related records for continuous guidance.
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Smart rules remind operators of critical limits and escalate out-of-spec findings.
Sampling Without Insight
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Filterable, searchable records and customizable reports can be easily exported for review and analysis, showing trends that can offer opportunities for improvement or show areas of risk.
Recall Readiness & Rapid Response
Paper records are tedious to collect, verify, and organize. This use of labor and management resources means that less time is available to invest in proactive risk management. Provision seeks to free managers from tedious binder prep and empower smarter root cause, CAPA, mock recall, and other efforts that protect nut brands from public scrutiny.
Link with Barcode Scanners
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Use handheld barcode scanners to input Lot IDs into records, saving time in data entry while unlocking a scalable approach to traceability.
Auto-Populate Records
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Prevent double-handling with intuitive drop-downs that instantly pull pre-existing data into the current record.
Connect Records for Traceability
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Every record that mentions the same product will link itself in sequence, enabling managers to easily trace processes forward or backwards without flipping through binders.
Filter & Search Data Reports
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Use simple, customizable reports to find specific data such as shipping destinations or Lot IDs, and export findings in one tap to uncover trends and insight.
Recall Readiness: Prepared for the Future
The ability to predict, prevent, or confidently respond to a recall is paramount for operations of any size or scope - particularly those in the nut industry. With smarter food safety tools, consumer brands can inspire public confidence in the products they offer, regardless of situations that may arise.
