Food Safety in Contract Manufacturing: Managing Third-Party Relationships

Introduction

Contract manufacturing offers food companies valuable flexibility—allowing them to expand product lines, enter new markets, or manage production surges without building new facilities. But when you hand over production to another company, you’re trusting them with your brand reputation and consumer safety.

The 2008-2009 peanut product Salmonella outbreak linked to the Peanut Corporation of America affected over 700 people and implicated numerous brands who had contracted their manufacturing. This stark reminder shows why managing food safety in contract manufacturing requires rigorous oversight and clear protocols.

Let’s explore how to effectively manage these third-party relationships to ensure food safety standards never slip through the cracks.

Key Considerations for Food Safety in Contract Manufacturing

1. Supplier Selection

The foundation of any successful contract manufacturing relationship begins with thorough vetting. Before signing agreements:

• ✔️ Research their compliance history, including FDA warning letters or recalls
• ✔️ Request and verify food safety certifications (GFSI schemes like SQF, BRCGS, or FSSC 22000)
• ✔️ Evaluate their HACCP programs and food safety management systems
• ✔️ Visit facilities in person to observe practices firsthand

A contract manufacturer in California specializing in ready-to-eat meals recently shared: “Clients who conduct comprehensive on-site assessments before signing tend to have the most successful long-term relationships. They know exactly what they’re getting into.”

2. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Clear SOPs serve as your roadmap for food safety expectations. Document and align on:

• ✔️ Raw material specifications and approved suppliers
• ✔️ Critical control points throughout the manufacturing process
• ✔️ Allergen control protocols
• ✔️ Environmental monitoring programs
• ✔️ Product testing requirements and acceptable limits
• ✔️ Sanitation procedures and verification methods

Don’t assume your contract manufacturer follows the same protocols you would. Spell everything out, particularly where your requirements might exceed regulatory minimums.

3. Regular Audits and Inspections

Once production begins, verification becomes essential:

• ✔️ Schedule unannounced facility visits to see real-time operations
• ✔️ Conduct regular compliance audits against your agreed standards
• ✔️ Review their internal audit findings and corrective actions
• ✔️ Consider third-party audits for unbiased assessment

One food safety director notes: “We conduct quarterly audits of all contract facilities with a scoring system tied to our continued business relationship. This creates accountability and incentivizes continuous improvement in food safety practices.”

4. Risk Management

Proactive risk identification and mitigation should be built into your contract manufacturing strategy:

• ✔️ Develop a risk matrix specific to each manufacturer
• ✔️ Implement robust traceability systems that seamlessly connect your operations
• ✔️ Conduct mock recalls at least annually to test system effectiveness
• ✔️ Create contingency plans for potential food safety incidents

Remember that while you can outsource production, you cannot outsource responsibility for the safety of products bearing your brand.

5. Training and Education

Ensure proper training extends throughout the contract manufacturer’s workforce:

• ✔️ Verify training programs meet regulatory requirements like FSMA’s Preventive Controls
• ✔️ Consider joint training sessions for alignment on critical procedures
• ✔️ Review training records during audits
• ✔️ Share updates on emerging food safety issues or changing regulations

6. Communication and Documentation

Open communication prevents misunderstandings that could compromise food safety:

• ✔️ Schedule regular review meetings to discuss performance metrics
• ✔️ Establish clear escalation procedures for food safety concerns
• ✔️ Create shared document repositories for specifications and procedures
• ✔️ Implement digital systems that provide real-time visibility into compliance

Regulatory Compliance

Contract manufacturers must comply with numerous regulations, including:

• ✔️ FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
• ✔️ Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs)
• ✔️ Bioterrorism Act requirements
• ✔️ Sanitary Transportation rules
• ✔️ Country-specific import/export requirements

Both parties should clearly define who bears responsibility for specific compliance elements. While manufacturers typically handle day-to-day compliance, brand owners remain ultimately accountable to regulators.

Challenges in Managing Third-Party Relationships

Several common challenges arise in contract manufacturing relationships:

• ✔️ Cultural differences in approaching food safety
• ✔️ Competing priorities between production efficiency and safety protocols
• ✔️ Limited visibility into actual manufacturing practices
• ✔️ Unclear accountability for food safety issues
• ✔️ Communication gaps between technical teams

Addressing these challenges requires strong relationship management and technological solutions that increase transparency throughout the supply chain.

Effective Digital Solutions for Contract Manufacturing Oversight

Technology has transformed how companies manage contract manufacturing relationships:

• ✔️ Cloud-based platforms allow real-time sharing of specifications and production data
• ✔️ Automated compliance tracking systems alert when certifications approach expiration
• ✔️ Digital audit tools standardize evaluation processes across multiple facilities
• ✔️ Blockchain and other traceability technologies enable farm-to-fork visibility
• ✔️ Supplier portals streamline documentation exchange and verification

These digital tools create transparency that was impossible just a decade ago, allowing food companies to monitor compliance across their contract manufacturing network with unprecedented detail.

Conclusion

Effective food safety management in contract manufacturing requires a blend of thorough vetting, clear communication, regular verification, and appropriate technology. By approaching third-party relationships with rigor and structure, food companies can confidently expand their production capacity without compromising safety standards.

Remember that successful oversight combines trust with verification. The most effective partnerships treat food safety as a shared responsibility with aligned incentives and transparent communication channels.

Transform Your Contract Manufacturing Food Safety Management

Managing food safety across multiple manufacturing partners shouldn’t keep you up at night. Primority‘s 3iVerify platform provides the visibility and control you need to ensure compliance throughout your contract manufacturing network.

With Primority, you can:

• ✔️ Digitize and standardize your third-party manufacturer onboarding process
• ✔️ Track supplier certifications with automated expiration alerts
• ✔️ Build and share consistent HACCP plans across all manufacturing sites
• ✔️ Conduct digital audits with standardized scoring and CAPA tracking
• ✔️ Access real-time compliance dashboards for complete visibility

Why choose Primority?

• ✔️ 25+ years of real-world food industry expertise built into our platform
• ✔️ Fully configurable systems that adapt to your unique supplier relationships
• ✔️ Support from certified food safety professionals who understand contract manufacturing
• ✔️ Integrated compliance with GFSI standards that your manufacturers must meet
• ✔️ Seamless CAPA management across your entire manufacturing network

Ready to strengthen your contract manufacturing oversight? Contact us today for a personalized demonstration of how Primority can help you maintain the highest food safety standards across all your manufacturing partners.