World Food Safety Day

June 7th marks World Food Safety Day, organised by the World Health Organization (WHO). Food safety is not only a concern for food producers, brand owners, retailers and consumers, but also for packaging companies such as Solidus. At Solidus, we produce packaging that is food-safe, designed for both direct and indirect contact with food products.

Food safety in Solidus

As a company, we are committed to ensuring food safety during and after the packaging process. Recognizing the importance of food safety in packaging, we design and manufacture our recovered paper packaging in strict compliance with all applicable food safety regulations and standards. Our objective is to ensure that our packaging is not only safe for direct food contact but also eliminates any possibility of contamination risk. To achieve this, we have set up our own Food Safety Department. This department monitors the safety of materials to ensure that our packaging meets industry standards.

To ensure that the final packaging is food safe, we conduct all relevant migration tests in our accredited laboratory. There are specific tests for packaging used for certain foods. For example, smoked salmon, which is legally classified as a fatty food, requires simulant testing. Our laboratory uses an appropriate food simulant to expose the board to specific conditions, time and temperature to measure substance migration. It’s important to consider the intended use of our packaging – whether the food will be stored in the fridge, freezer or even microwave – as this will affect how migration tests are conducted.

When performing these tests, we closely monitor food safety regulations, as the tests are based on current regulations. If the regulations change, we adapt our tests accordingly. We use a software tool to track changes in food safety regulations. We have set atarget of achieving zero product recalls for food safety, alongside obtaining A ratings for our BRC certification audits at all our converting sites. The software plays a pivotal role in supporting our strategic objectives, particularly in managing food contact obligations.

This process involves collaboration across many departments. For example, if there is a proposal to test a new type of adhesive, a Management of Change (MOC) process is initiated. This involves various departments such as process technology, procurement, SHE (Safety, Health, and Environment), and food safety to review their aspects before the new material is tested. By performing these tests regularly, we ensure the food safety of our packaging products like Traycompact, punnets and transport packaging.

Certification

As a testament to our commitment to food safety, Solidus holds several FSSC 22000 or BRC certifications for multiple locations that produce packaging materials. FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification 22000), and BRC (British Retail Consortium) are both globally recognized certification schemes for food safety. They provide guidelines for the effective management of food safety responsibilities. By maintaining these certifications, Solidus demonstrates compliance with the general HACCP standards and shows our commitment to ensuring food safety of our packaging materials.

Consumers

With our food-safe packaging, consumers can trust that their food products are packed in packaging that preserves the safety and quality of their food.