Food safety is one of the growing needs in the 21st century due to mass-scale manufacturing and the restaurant’s ability to produce meals for the increasing population. Earlier, manufacturers and restaurants would follow food safety protocols using a chart and use best practices to avoid food poisoning or digestive problems.
Advancements in technology also classified certain food products as carcinogenic and introduced the HACCP plan for regulation and food inspection. However, it becomes quite tedious to file reports manually, complaints, follow guidelines by cross-checking multiple charts, and look for ways of preserving food longer.
What if all of these attributes about food safety would be clubbed on our single platform and used with a mobile device anytime, anywhere with ease?
Yes, then arose multiple food safety apps on Android and iOS devices, designed following HACCP plans.
Here are the ten vital aspects you need to know about your food safety apps.
1. Filing Reports Made Easy
There are many reports involved to follow the HACCP plan and maintain best hygiene practices. This includes health & safety audits, restaurant visit reports, BRC reports, monthly shop reviews, and others. You can file all these reports easily as it is digitized and all you have to do is sign and attach photographs.
2. Food Classification
Classifying food using a digital system helps for various reasons, including preservation, retrieval, stocking, and more. Various food safety apps have incorporated this feature and can be easily used by the management.
3. Temperature Monitoring
Installing sensors and linking your refrigerator with your food safety apps, you can monitor the temperature of the food product stored on your mobile device. Real-time updates allow you to maintain the temperature needed for longer preservation and avoid loss of food capita during a disaster.
4. Managing Expired products
As a vendor, distributor, or restaurant manager per se, it is your duty to manage food products and keep track of their expiry and date of manufacturing. It is a tedious task for a human being which is made easy by using food safety apps where the app notifies the products getting expired soon.
5. Food allergen tracking
If you have a food allergy and are afraid to try out a new food product, you can use this feature in your food safety apps. You can enter allergies known to you, scan the bar code on the product, and the app will determine if you can consume that product or not.
6. Notification system
This feature in the food safety app is vital as it prevents food wastage issues. When the app notifies you about the products getting expired, you can simply make use of it before the expiry date or give it to someone in need. In this way, food wastage is prevented, and you can restock just in time.
7. Pest Control Checklist
The food safety app also includes a pest control checklist that follows the HACCP plan. This allows you to keep your food pest-free and maintain best hygiene practices.
8. Hygiene Audits
You can also log and audit hygiene practices followed promptly, which can later be used while filing reports to the food inspection officials. You will also get timely reminders to follow the necessary hygiene practices to maintain food storage for efficient storage and prevent bacterial growth.
9. Report delivery made easy
Your food safety app is a one-stop solution to deliver reports using a single touch to the authorities concerned and individuals you wish to keep in the loop. Hence, you do not have to waste time delivering reports to the concerned officials.
10. Transparency in food management
Your food management is made easy and transparent using food safety apps features designed for the efficient functioning of the management. This allows a curated inflow of every governing aspect of the restaurant/manufacturing unit/store and maintains the food safety protocols.
In conclusion, your food safety app has multiple vital aspects regarding food regulation, food safety protocols, and more.