Recently, an online poll conducted by Packaging Digest indicated that 80% of those who responded feel companies are not doing enough when it comes to the safety of the foods they eat. Almost 80% of respondents feel that manufacturers of food and beverage products would benefit by additional inspection on their packaging lines. One respondent said that when you compare the costs of a recall versus the cost per pack of inspection, it is really a ‘no brainer.’

Many who responded to the poll felt that it’s best to catch a potential problem during the packaging process than down the line, when products are on store shelves. Others felt that when it comes to the foods consumers eat, safety cannot be stressed enough.

One participant felt that how companies communicate with consumers regarding the safety of their products was another area in need of an ‘overhaul.’ This respondent voiced the opinion of many, who do not want to dial an 800 number only to be stuck on a recorded message for 45 minutes. According to the participant, consumers today want immediate gratification. For some, this means scanning a QR code and receiving answers in 30 seconds from any location cell service is available.

One respondent in the minority felt that adding more inspections in the packaging process was not the solution, and that the problem of lack of food safety occurs when manufactures discover poor quality, but fail to do anything about it.

For manufacturers, not ensuring the safety of foods and beverages has high costs, including loss of market share and consumer trust. One clear advantage to adding more inspections on the packaging line is that recalls caused by products being mislabeled could be minimized.

Certainly, additional inspections would take a bit more time – but the headaches and costs it could save down the road is probably worth a little more time spent, especially when it comes to consumer brand trust.

At REA JET, we provide industrial coding and marking solutions for all types of packaging including cardboard boxes, fibre drums, tray packaging, corrugated cardboard, fibreboard sheet printing, plastic tubes, molded plastic, food cartons, plastic bottles, flour bags, glass, cardboard trays, and more. When it comes to industrial printing solutions, we provide real, reliable solutions you can count on.