Over the past decade, food safety has entered a new chapter in its on-going development and governance, and it’s all thanks to technology. Specific devices and applications have been developed to make it easier for food businesses to monitor, process and report on food safety control, and they’re all a product of a new, fandangle term called the ‘Internet of Things’.
The Internet of Things might sound an outlandish buzzword created by overpaid marketeers, but it’s actually a big deal, and will be adopted by most industries in the near future. But what exactly is the Internet of Things, and how is it shaking up the food safety sector?
The Internet of Things is a cloud-based computing network, which allows machines to communicate with one another over the WWW. It’s built in the cloud using data-gathering sensors, providing instantaneous, remote connection for a number of devices. Developers working on the technology believe the sky truly is the limit in terms of its capabilities, and it’s apparently going to make every electronic device ‘smart’ over the next few years — from kettles to street lamps.
Now that we’ve cleared up exactly what the IoT is, it’s time to look at the affect the technology is having on the food safety industry.
Thanks to intelligent data sensors, which transmit information remotely and automatically at regular intervals, food businesses are able to more closely monitor the quality and condition of specific foodstuffs, as well as workplace safety processes. This automated process is all thanks to devices connected to the IoT, whose automated reporting capabilities completely streamline the process of synchronising food safety practices — providing businesses with a digital paper trail which allows them to maintain and oversee food safety standards.
The main benefit of the IoT for food businesses is the ease with which such technologies are able to capture data relevant to the storage and preparation of different foods — a job which, traditionally, was a manual and time-consuming process. The technology can also be used to prompt staff when an inspection is required, reducing the likelihood of a business breaching food safety regulations.
To do this, food safety devices connected to the IoT are being preloaded with automated checklists that report on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points regulations. When action is required, the device will automatically alert the workforce — giving them invaluable pre-warning of a specific food safety or hygiene breach in the professional kitchen environment.
For food businesses which are yet to adopt the Internet of Things in the workplace, the benefits of doing so far outweigh the financial investment of buying the technologies. At Shieldyourself, we have developed a range of IoT powered compliance systems which make it easy to keep track of food safety audits and risk assessments, helping you to reduce costs and ensure full compliance across your business.
To find out more about what we can offer you, visit the Shieldyourself homepage or call us on 020 3797 2938.
The information contained in this blog article has been created for marketing purposes and is not official guidance and should not be used as a substitute for official food safety, health and safety or fire safety advice. Shieldyourself take no responsibility if the information in the blog article is used to form part of a safety management system or used to form part of any legal or regulatory compliance for your business. For official guidance and to engage with Shieldyourself services please do call our team on 020 3740 3744 or email sales@shieldsafety.co.uk.
