Stop allergen product recalls with packaging automation
With allergen-related product recalls on the rise, food manufacturers are under increasing pressure to ensure products are correctly labelled. But why do these errors occur in the first place and how do we stop them? We spoke to Faye Louch, OAL Connected’s Trainer, to understand the problems and how automation can help.
Why is the risk increasing?
Packaging updates
These days packaging has a lot more artwork, which is also updated regularly. Every time a new version of packaging is released, there is a potential to introduce an error into the labelling system. This could be as simple as a missed ingredient or misprinted code.
New product formulae
New product formulations can mean that a small change to the ingredients, which may introduce allergens where previously there were none. When this happens, it is easy to miss the allergens when updating the ingredients, particularly if the packaging has not changed.
Similar packaging
Walk up any supermarket aisle and you'll notice, a lot of food packaging can look very similar. Retailers attract consumer attention by making products within a range look eye-catching and similar, so when the packaging is on the line it can be difficult for an operator to distinguish between an allergen-containing and non-allergen product.
Mismatch example. Tomato soup pot with vegetable soup sleeve.
How can OAL help?
The system scans every product to ensure the correct packaging and date code are applied.
OAL Autocoding controls and automates the set-up of your packaging line devices from a master database of products defined by your technical team.
During the product set up within the system database, the artwork version code gets programmed. This tells the scanner the information it needs to look for.
The scanner will give a mismatch and stop the line instantly if it sees anything other than this information. Preventing incorrect packaged product leaving the factory.
Codes contain letters and numbers and the information must be printed exactly, including capitalisation e.g. P or p.
During the artwork process occasionally letters and numbers can be missed or incorrectly capitalised causing a mismatch within the system.
The mismatch is an indicator that something is wrong in the information that the scanner has seen and requires investigation prior to any product leaving the manufacturing facility.
What about our current 1D codes?
1D codes are the product code. They are used in-store so when scanned they tell the retailer what they have sold you and are about stock replenishment.
The 1D does not alter when the version of the artwork alters, hence the reason for 2D codes.
2D codes offer version control. If there is a change on the artwork then the 2D code will change, this is how manufacturers control versions of Packaging.
The OAL system reads every 2D code that passes the scanner, essentially removing the element of human error from the process and drastically reducing the potential for incorrect packaging and potential allergen related recalls.
Any top tips from Faye?
Artwork is critical
Firstly, get the artwork stage correct. The artwork is created before the packaging gets to site, but it has a massive impact on the scanning process. You need to ensure that the 2D codes are:
The right size
Printed clearly
Have the right white zone
Contain the correct information
Codes that are too small are unreadable or will give incorrect information.
Hence it's important to get your artwork team on-board with 2D code requirements.
Printing best practices
Secondly, for any products that have sleeves on them, consider printing the allergens on the film of the product’s lid. This is a good second step to alert the customer in case the wrong sleeve has been put on the product, or something happens post-production.
The OAL system can do this by adding a second printer to the system to allow a 2 stage controlled printing process.
Stage 1 allows allergen information to be programmed and printed on the pack.
Stage 2 is where the date code information is printed on the pack.
Having stage 1 is important in the control of allergens as it failsafe in the event the product and sleeve become parted the allergen is still available as it is printed on the product film.
