Food Manufacturer Turns to Integrator for Compliance & Security Technology Master Plan
The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), signed into law in January 2011 and enacted in 2015, was the most sweeping reform of U.S. food safety in more than 70 years. The impending regulation provided the impetus for one major food manufacturer to assess its current physical security program and develop a plan for the implementation of mitigation measures focused on anticipated compliance requirements.
FSMA encompasses more than just food safety regulations; it includes physical security and safety technologies, processes and procedures that are targeted at protecting against both unintentional and intentional acts of contamination. With more than 20 plants nationwide — many possessing security systems at different stages of the lifecycle and no physical security standards in place — this food manufacturer knew it was time for a complete assessment and technology upgrade. FSMA was the impetus for the assessment and upgrade, but the desire to get ahead of that regulation and to be at the leading edge of it drove the company to search for an integration partner. This partner needed to address all aspects of FSMA compliance and serve as its security technology subject matter expert, while working collaboratively with the manufacturer’s internal project team to identify, design and implement a new security technology platform across all plant locations.