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Food safety and food quality in the supply chain,

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Abstract

Maintaining food security has become unconditional when it comes to food trade and customer demand. The food put on the market has to be of good quality and safe for consumption, as well as not be a source of disease and infection. For this reason, securing food safety and quality is a matter of international significance and a responsibility of food producers and governments. During the process of distribution food products go through all stages of supply chain, i. e. all processes which describe how food travels from a farm to the consumersʼ tables. The aim of this strategy, called "from the field to the table", is to achieve full supervision of food safety in the modern world, because the journey leading from food production to the consumer is very time-and space consuming. Along this journey, there are many dangers of food contamination, be it in the very production, during the transport, food storage, or food preparation. In order to enable food quality and sanitary safety of food products, companies have to follow legislations, standards and norms at every stage of supply chain. The aim of this paper is to show how food safety and quality is legally regulated during the distribution in the supply chain, and the ways in which companies ensure a certain high level of hygiene and temperature levels that different kinds of food products require.
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FOOD SAFETY AND FOOD QUALITY IN THE SUPPLY
CHAIN
Jadranka Bendeković, Dora Naletina & Iva Nola
Faculty of Economics and Business Zagreb
Croatia
Abstract
Maintaining food security has become unconditional when it comes to food trade and
customer demand. The food put on the market has to be of good quality and safe for
consumption, as well as not be a source of disease and infection. For this reason, securing
food safety and quality is a matter of international significance and a responsibility of food
producers and governments. During the process of distribution food products go through all
stages of supply chain, i. e. all processes which describe how food travels from a farm to the
consumersʼ tables. The aim of this strategy, called “from the field to the table”, is to achieve
full supervision of food safety in the modern world, because the journey leading from food
production to the consumer is very time - and space consuming. Along this journey, there are
many dangers of food contamination, be it in the very production, during the transport, food
storage, or food preparation. In order to enable food quality and sanitary safety of food
products, companies have to follow legislations, standards and norms at every stage of supply
chain. The aim of this paper is to show how food safety and quality is legally regulated during
the distribution in the supply chain, and the ways in which companies ensure a certain high
level of hygiene and temperature levels that different kinds of food products require.
Key words: supply chain, food safety; food quality; transport; HACCAP
1. INTRODUCTION
The thesis of this paper is to describe the way processes flow in the supply chain with the aim
of preserving food safety and quality. Keeping in mind that food products are among most
delicate products on the market, they require special conditions during distribution. Therefore,
various details, like temperature, air quality, humidity etc., have to be considered. The aim of
this paper is to show how food safety and quality is legally regulated during the distribution in
the supply chain, and the ways in which companies ensure a certain high level of hygiene and
temperature levels that different kinds of food products require.
The paper is structured in seven chapters. After the introduction, it will be analysed types and
importance of supply chain. The aim of third chapter is to present key standards and norms for
safety and preservation of food quality. As policy of a food safety in last decades become
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highly important, fourth chapter will analyse it. Quality and monitoring systems in the food
industry and food safety control systems are analysed before the conclusion.
2 TYPES AND IMPORTANCE OF SUPPLY CHAIN
Defining supply chain is not unambiguous. Different authors have different approaches to
defining supply chain, so they have to be critically assessed. The term is often connected with
the term logistics, where logistics is narrower in scope than supply chain and vice versa, or
the terms are seen as interchangeable.
Supply chain management is a broader concept than logistics, which is defined as a process of
strategic management of supply, movement and storage of materials, partially or completely
finished goods and information, through the organization and its marketing channels
(Christopher, 2011: 4), while Ferišak (2006: 25) defines supply chain as an organizational and
informational integration of individual processes of supply of business functions in a
company, which makes the internal part of supply chain, and their connection to the processes
from outside directly involved in creating value, which makes the external part of supply
chain, and all this with the aim to optimize the whole process of the flow of goods (materials,
intermediate and finished products) and to increase possibilities of creating value. The system
for supply chain management comprises a broader spectre of activities in relation to those
comprised by logistics, for it includes time periods for resource allotment and various other
activities dealing with the establishment of long-term relations with suppliers and customers.
According to Cooper (1997: 2), logistics deals with the flows of materials, supplies and
information inside the supply chain, while supply chain management integrates all business
processes between all companies involved. Despite different definitions of the supply chain, it
is clear that the purpose of managing the supply chain as an integration function is to develop
a competitive business model through connecting key business functions and processes inside
and among economic subjects.
Therefore, five elements crucial for achieving the supply chain results can be determined:
production, supplies, location, transport and information. The coordination of these elements
is needed in order to achieve the best combination of efficiency and profitability for the
targeted market (Hugos, 2003: 10). The coordination of the flow of goods, information and
finance between the involved companies along the journey from the raw material to the final
consumer is in fact managing the supply chain. The term of supply chain relates to monitoring
the process of supply from all the participants in the distribution channel, with the aim of
assessing how consumersʼ demand influences the movement of product supply through a
number of mediators.
The members of supply chain are producers, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, dealers
who cooperate in the process of supply, delivery, production and sales, all with the aim to
meet the demand. When assessing the efficiency of supply chain, special attention needs to be
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given to the research of business relations between participants, because it defines the supply
chain performance. A successful supply chain gives competitive advantage to all its members.
2.1. Supply chain types
There are three types of supply chains, considering the number of members: direct, extended
and final supply chain (Noémi, 2013: 132).
The direct supply chain is the simplest form, because only a supplier, a central company and a
buyer are included. The extended supply chain includes the supplier, the company, the buyer,
as well as the supplier’s supplier, where the final chain includes all the members in all the
flows of goods, services, information and capital, starting from the first supplier to the final
consumer. Similar to the traditional supply chain, the final supply chain consists of the
supplier, the central company and the consumer, and of the final supplier and the final buyer.
An important role in the final supply chain play the logistics, financial services providers and
market researches. Logistics is a participant in the supply chain, which is in contact with the
buyer and the central company, and its task is to deliver, distribute and plan all related
logistics tasks. Payments and credit services between the central company and the supplier are
performed by financial service provider, while market researchers collect the demand
information and feedback on the consumersʼ demand.
A supply chain can be longer or shorter. It is longer if more members are included and shorter
if the producer sells a product or a service directly. The supply chains efficiency is assessed
by measuring the performances of individual companies involved in the chain. During the
measuring, economic indicators, flow of information, relations between the participants etc.
are taken into consideration. Therefore, this assessment gives us the possibility of insight into
the whole picture of where the chain functions well, and where there could be setbacks.
2.2. Importance of food products supply chain
Food products are most delicate goods on the market, for they are exposed to the risks like
inadequate storage, wrong temperature levels, poor air quality, humidity, light and other
factors influencing the quality and safety. The examples corroborating this are: with no
optimal temperature, bacteria grow uncontrollably, and the light directly influences the quality
of a fresh product (Smith, 2006: 57). Likewise, without proper storage, goods become
perishable. Therefore, every storage room has to be equipped with control units which report
temperature levels at any time.
Farmers, suppliers, wholesalers, retailers and transporters are participants in the food supply
chain, and therefore obligated to enable proper conditions certain food products require. The
flow of information among the participants is also important, as well as the product
management, in order to maintain the food quality in the supply chain.
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The food products supply chain relates to all the processes (production, manufacturing,
distribution, sales and consumption), which describe the flow of foods from the farm (field) to
the consumersʼ tables. Every activity in the supply chain requires man or natural resources,
and if a part of the chain is endangered, this affects the entire chain. To avoid the chain to fall
apart, i. e. the products to perish, it is crucial that participants value certain characteristics of a
product, its origin, legal requirements and the temperature sensibility set by the producer’s
declaration. Important roles here play the distributors who are obliged to ensure traceability of
a product at any time, which is ensured by special informational technology for temperature
monitoring etc.
Bearing in mind that the food placed on the market needs to be of a certain quality, a high
level of security is needed, because the very supply chain is set in a complicated, dynamic and
time-critical environment. Therefore, an important role in the evolution and development of
modern food supply chains hold six key factors: quality, technology, logistics, informational
technology, regulatory framework and the buyer.
Food products play an important role in economy. For example, in Croatia, food and drinks
production is the largest part of the GDP and employment when compared to other processing
industries. In 2012, the portion of food and drinks industries in the Croatian GDP was 4.1 %
(food processing was 3.2%, drink processing 0.9%), while, at same time, the part of food and
drinks processing in the GDP was 28%. Food processing contribution was 21.8% and drinks
processing contribution was 6.4% (EIZ, 2015: 3).
The negative trends in the Croatian food and drinks industry in the last few years are a result
of an economic crisis, as well as the loss of the privileged export status on the CEFTA
markets, due to the Croatian accession to the EU. In the first trimester of this year, the food
and drinks production sector contributed 19% on average in the total processing industry
employment, thereof 16.8% was food processing, 2.2% drinks industry. After negative inter
year growth rate in the food industry two years in a row (1.9% inter year drop between 2012
and 2013), last year there was a slight growth. During the entire 2014, food production
records inter year growth rate of 2%. Deseasoned data, according to which the production
activity of the food industry was increased by 2.1% in the period from December 2014 to
February 2015 in relation to the former trimester, also indicate the recovery of this industry.
3. KEY STANDARDS AND NORMS FOR SAFETY AND PRESERVATION OF
FOOD QUALITY
The European Union has defined food safety as one of the key priorities, for it has become
one of the unconditional requirements when it comes to food trade, consumersʼ demands, as
well as Croatian and European legislation. This issue can be regarded from two aspects. The
first safety is security of food source (food security), important in the underdeveloped
countries, while the second safety is the one related to the sanitary correctness (food safety).
Food safety aims at protecting the health and interests of the consumers and securing free
flow of foods on the market (Schmidt i Rodrick, 2005: 3). The strategy “from the farm to the
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fork” (tal. from the field to the table), with which a complete management of food safety
wants to be achieved, bears great significance in the modern world, for the journey from the
point of food production to the consumer can be time- and space consuming, and various
dangers can arise along the way - in the very production, during the transport, storage and
food preparation. Therefore, it is important to establish and maintain an effective
communication between all the subjects involved in processing the food, legislation and
regulatory administrations and consumers, in order to preserve the quality and safety of food
along the entire production chain.
Four main elements of the food safety strategy in the European Union are food safety for
humans and animals regulations, independent and public health judgement, concrete actions
in the regulation enforcement and process control, knowing the consumersʼ rights to choice
based on complete information on where the food comes from and its content (European
Commision, 2004). One of the elements of the food safety relates to the legislation
enforcement and food control, and is performed by the system of rapid information on food
for humans and animals RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) which enables rapid
flow of information about new risks.
Quality standards for most food categories in the Republic of Croatia are set in special
legislations, with the aim of informing the consumers and protecting their rights.
The legislations encompass:
authorized technological methods applied in the food production and processing,
defined chemical, physical, physical-chemical and sensory properties, food content
(types and quantity of ingredients),
classification, categorization and name of the food,
methods needed to be applied before the food is put on the market,
additional requirements for food labelling,
methods set by the European Union for the control of prescribed standards of food
quality.
Companies dealing with food have two parallel systems for food quality preservation and
safety. The system enabled by the state is based on legislations which define ways of ensuring
quality and set mandatory and voluntary standards, and which are controlled by state
inspections. The other system for food preservation is based on standards which are voluntary
and led by market laws, which are defined and set by, for example, international associations
(Knežević, 2013: 193).
Introducing standards leads to the improvement of company performance. Food companies
achieve marketing competitive advantage, as well as increase market share by applying
recognized standards. They also achieve multiple advantages like easier accomplishing the
goals and quality policies related to food safety set by the administration, alignment with
international standards and global market requirements, which, in the end, can influence the
increase in productivity.
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On the global market, there is a growing issue of food safety, so the participants in the food
production chain have the need to internationally align the norms which would enable a
complete system for food safety management and producing and market placement of
completely safe and quality food. The norms are established by a consensus, and they set
different requirements for safety, quality, traceability of product, as well as protection of
safety and health of people, environmental protection etc. Certain norms have to be
administered by Croatian producers and distributors. However, which voluntary norm and
when it will be applied by a food company depends on the decisions of management and the
company director. Considering the ever growing global market and changeable market laws,
companies are forced to constantly adapt to these changes, and one way is to accept and
implement internationally recognized standards. In the Republic of Croatia Croatian Standard
Institute (HZN) was established, with the aim of increasing the level of product safety,
environment protection, preservation of health, improvement of production efficiency,
promoting product and service quality, and eliminating technical barriers in the international
trade. Likewise, it contributes to the quality and competitiveness of the Croatian economy,
facilitates export of Croatian products onto the international market and fulfils all the
obligations of Croatia as a member of the European Union. Because of a great number of
national norms, the need arose for adjusting the norms to the international level, and that is
how ISO 22000 was created, which is a set of norms representing industry’s tendency to
create international norm acceptable and recognizable in all countries. ISO 22000 is a Food
Safety Management System that can be applied to any organization in the food chain, farm to
fork. Becoming certified to ISO 22000 allows a company to show their customers that they
have a food safety management system in place. Normative documents of 22000 are
international norms which enable safe food in the supply chain (MINPO 2013).
4. POLICY AND LEGISLATION IN THE FIELD OF FOOD SAFETY
Because of its importance, the policy of food safety has become a special area of interests and
regulations for European institutions and members of the European Union. In part, it belongs
to other European policies, as well as health and consumer and environment protection and
agricultural policy.
At the beginning of 2000s new diseases emerged connected to food consumption and more
often incidents connected to food occurred, which decreased consumersʼ and public
confidence across Europe, and encouraged the European Union to completely change food
safety approach (UDD, 2014). Namely, due to different procedures in the assessment of
health risk, unevenness of legislations in certain countries on the common market and
undefined responsibility along the long supply chain, food processing and distribution, the
European Union decided to establish a unique legislation for all the member states regarding
food safety. This body of legislation is qualified for a scientific assessment of risk with strict
procedures which are valid in all the member states.
The subjects which participate in the food business in all phases of production, processing and
distribution, which are under their control, have to ensure that human and animal food meets
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the requirements of food regulations, which is also the basic principle implemented in the
regulations, laws and legislations. They are also responsible for the ensurance of traceability,
in order to prove the origin of plants, animals, meat and other ingredients which are to be
found in human and animal food. The subjects involved in the business with food have to
ensure that all food for humans and animals and all its ingredients can be traced through all
phases of production, processing and distribution (NN, 30/15). The subjects should be able to
identify every legal and natural person which has supplied them with food for humans and
animals, animals used for the food production or any other substance intended to be used or
expected to be used in the food for humans or animals. All of this has to be accompanied with
documentation in line with the regulations (MRRR, 2011: 6).
One of the most important accomplishments of the consumers and food safety protection
policy is labelling foods with declarations and in retail stores. Food labelling is very important
in order to protect the rights of consumers, which want to know contents of food they buy on
the market, its origins and how to preserve it and prepare it properly, as well as its shelf-life
(Ministry of Agriculture, 2013).
The legislation regarding the food safety in the European Union has changed a lot during the
last couple of years. The new legislation encompasses the entire chain, from the producers,
distributors, through retailers and consumers, which means that high standards are set before
all the producers and all the participants in the food product supply chain, important for food
safety and quality preservation. As a member of the European Union, the Republic of Croatia
had the obligation to adjust the legislation to the European Union legal aquis (MPRRR, 2011).
The whole legislation is based on scientific risk assessment, because the very risk analysis is
one of the most important elements of food safety. The European Food Safety Agency
(EFSA) plays the central role in the process of risk analysis. Since 2003, the Republic of
Croatia has to monitor all the amendments of European legislation in the area of food safety.
Food Law (NN br. 46/07, 155/08), adopted in the Republic of Croatia in 2007, gave the
framework for adjusting to the European Union legal aquis in the area of food safety, which
relates to official control organization, hygiene rules and food safety. New law on food has
been applicable since March 18, 2015 (NN 81/13, 14/14, 30/15) and it provides general
guidelines on food regulations, sets the official controls systems, laboratory procedures,
prescribes conditions for food and animal food safety and obligations for subjects dealing
with food and animal food, crisis management, rapid alert system, food and animal food
hygiene, general conditions of quality and labelling of food and animal food, and general
conditions for food which contains genetically modified organisms.
4.1. Bodies and institutions in charge with the implementation of food safety
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture are the bodies in charge of the establishment
and implementation of specific areas of food safety policy, according to the jurisdiction in the
article 4, paragraph 3 and 4 of Food Law (NN, 30/15). The body in charge of the
establishment and implementation of food safety policy in the area of sanitary correctness of
the items and materials which come in the immediate touch with food and registration of non-
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animal origin food facilities and other facilities under the jurisdiction of sanitary inspection is
the Ministry of Health. It is in charge of GMO food, drinks and drinking water.
Ministry of Agriculture is the body in charge of the establishment and implementation of food
safety policy in various areas, like general principles of food and animal food regulations,
general rules of food and animal food hygiene. It represents a starting point towards the
European Commission and it is the body in charge of coordination of official controls, health
policy and animal protection, and phytosanitary policy.
Institutions in charge of the implementation of food safety in the Republic of Croatia are:
Croatian Food Agency (HAH9, Croatian Standards institute (HZN), Croatian Accreditation
Agency and Ministry of Economy.
Croatian Food Agency is a legal person which deals with scientific and expert procedures in
the area of food and animal food safety, and whose activities, organization and work
principles are set by Food Law (NN 81/13), Croatian Food Agency Statute and other general
acts of Croatian Food Agency, and it is a point of reference for risk assessment in the field of
food and animal food safety.
Croatian Norms Law is an independent and unprofitable public institution which works as an
informative centre on technical regulations in line with the 98/34/EZ Directive of the
European Parliament and Council and for the Agreement on technical barriers in the trade by
World Trade Organization, business contact reference points for the Codex Alimentarius
Commission and for products in line with the 764/2008/EZ Regulation of the European
Parliament and Council. It was established as a national normed body of the Republic of
Croatia, with the aim of achieving and increasing the product and process safety level,
environment protection, health and life preservation and promotion of products, process and
service quality, all with the aim of eliminating technical barriers in the international trade.
Croatian Accrediting Agency was established for the implementation of Croatian technical
legislation which is in line with the legal aquis of the European Union, and it deals with
activities of national services for accreditation in the Republic of Croatia. Technical
regulations regulate food safety, citizens’ health protection, consumers’ protection and other
fields of public interests.
4.2. Responsibility of subjects in the food safety preservation
Subjects dealing with food are responsible for food preservation they put on the market
according to prescribed regulations during all the phases of production, processing and
distribution. They are primarily responsible for complying with the hygiene conditions,
ensuring traceability in all the phases of food production, processing and distribution, animal
food, animals used for food production etc. (MINPO, 2013).
They are also responsible for construction of facilities according to Food Hygiene Act, in the
way that they ensure the construction under special conditions, their location, necessary
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contents needed for certain hygiene levels and the size of facilities where food is processed
(HaH; n/a).
Means of transport or containers for food transportation have to be construed in a way to
ensure adequate cleaning and disinfection and must not be used for transport of anything else
besides food (HaH, n/a). All equipment and materials used have to be regularly maintained
and installed as to enable easier cleaning and disinfection, as well as appropriate control
devices for measuring temperature, pressure etc.
Every subject that comes in touch with food has to comply with the high level of personal
hygiene regulations and go through an adequate training in line with special regulations for
certain food sector. If subjects have infected injuries, they must not handle food nor enter the
area where food is handled, and have to wear proper protective clothing.
5. QUALITY MONITORING SYSTEMS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY
Quality monitoring systems (QMS) are key to every food industry sector in order to ensure
safe and quality food for consumers (Orris i Whitehead, 2000: 347). The most important
quality monitoring systems in the food industry are: Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI),
International Food Standard (IFS), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Safe
Quality Food (SQF) te British Retail Consoratium (BRC).
Global Food Safety Initiative is an unprofitable organization which promotes improvement of
food safety system in order to ensure consumersʼ trust in the delivery of safe food. There are
three main goals: ensuring protection of consumers, ensuring international knowledge and
information exchange, and reducing costs in the food supply chain. International Food
Standard is an unprofitable organization which sets the basic criteria for those norms that food
industries have to respect. The aim of these norms is to help the retailers to ensure safety of
their products and food quality monitoring. International Organization for Standardization
(ISO 22000) is an internationally accepted norm which sets the conditions for establishing and
maintaining an efficient system for food safety management. Safe Quality Food is an
American organization with the aim of ensuring quality and safe food by means of SQF
Certification Scheme. British Retail Consortium is an organization representing all larger
British retailers, which, until now, has developed five food industry norms in order to help
retailers to completely follow legislation concerning customer protection, in the way that they
provide a common basis for testing all companies that supply products to retailers (Baert,
2005: 878).
6. FOOD SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM
HACCP is the acronym of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point which represents an
integrated system of food safety control in all the phases of its production and distribution. It
was developed in the USA in the early 1960s as a help in food preparation for astronauts, and
is also one of the first systems for food safety control widely accepted in food processing and
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delivery (Kilibarda, 2009). It bears great importance for food producers from the point of
consumers’ protection, because it ensures production and circulation of sanitary safe foods.
There are two main components to HACCP: Hazard Analysis (HA) i Critical Control Points
(CCP). Hazard Analysis (HA) is a risk analysis with which dangers at every stage of
production and delivery are identified and it evaluates the levels of those dangers and how
they affect human health. Critical Control Points (CCP) in the food chain are those points
which enable complete prevention or elimination of risks or at least reduction of risks onto an
acceptable level, as well as their control to ensure food safety. HACCP is an assessment
analysis system of dangers which directly influences the sanitary correctness of food products,
and it establishes measures for their control. Its implementation is widely prevalent in the
developed world, and in the European Union it is legally binding. Its final goal is to ensure the
safest production and procedures possible.
Five branches of food industry demanding the implementation of the HACCAP System are:
Storage, transport and distribution; Organic food industry; Retail and Hospitality; Production,
processing and packaging; Food preparation and distribution (hotels, restaurants etc.). During
transportation, food can be contaminated due to influence of physical, chemical and biological
factors. Therefore, it is important that food transportation is in line with the HACCP norms in
order to prevent the very food contamination.
General conditions according to the HACCP Guide for Good Sanitary Practice in
Transportation are (HGK, HOK, 2011):
Means of transport have to be constructed in a way to enable efficient cleaning and
disinfection, and have to be kept in a clean and good condition in order to protect the
food from contamination.
Food that is transported by any of the means of transportation or in containers has to
be secured and arranged as to prevent any form of contamination.
Food in various forms (liquid, bulk, powder, granules or granular food) needs to be
transported in canisters, containers, or tanks intended for food transportation, which
must be vividly and clearly labelled with non-erasable labels in the language used in
the international food transport, so their use could be clearly seen; they also have to be
clearly labelled “for food transportation only”.
When means of transport and containers are used for the transport of other products or
for the transport of different kinds of foods, it is necessary that they be thoroughly
cleaned in order to prevent any contamination.
When means of transport and containers are used for the transport of various kinds of
food and other products at the same time, they must be physically separated in order to
prevent contamination.
Means of transport and containers used for the transportation of foods which needs to
be at a specific temperature level, have to ensure proper temperature control.
Means of transport and containers used for transportation of deep-frozen foods have to
enable supervision and the list of the reached temperatures in line with regulations.
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Vehicles used for food transportation have to be constructed for this purpose, clean, dust and
exhaustion fumes cannot enter the vehicle, they have to be weather resistant and enable
specific temperature conditions. Depending on the food being transported, we can also
differentiate conditions for food handling during the transportation. For example, frozen foods
have to be transported in the appropriately chilled (-18 ºC) or isolated conditions. If the food
temperature would rise up to -15 ºC during the transport, it is necessary to bring it back to -18
ºC after it was received at a wholesale or a retail store as soon as possible, as it is set out in the
HACCP Guide for Good Sanitary Practices. Likewise, food that requires special temperature
levels needs to be stored at the appropriate temperature immediately after the delivery as to
avoid the possibility of microorganisms to grow.
There are a few types of vehicles used in the transportation of temperature-sensitive products:
vehicle with cooling devices (cooler truck), vehicle with the isothermal equipment and vehicle
with heating equipment. All these vehicles are equipped with special temperature gauges with
the possibility of setting the appropriate temperature. In case of food being repacked from the
original packaging into specific containers or canisters, it is of great importance to save the
original declaration and place it where it will be clearly visible.
The system dictates certain conditions to be met when food is being received, and those are:
commercial delivery vehicle, temperature measuring, visual control, declarations control, and
keeping the written records of the received food.
The delivered food has to be appropriately stored. The facilities where food is stored have to
meet sanitary technical and hygienic conditions as to prevent its spoilage and contamination.
Depending on the food type and storage demands, food can be stored in cooling devices or
coolers and at the ambient temperature. As a rule, required temperature has to be maintained
and cannot fluctuate. It is of great importance to monitor and keep record of the temperature
in the cooling devices and coolers, but the temperatures are often not appropriate after
constant opening of the devices or automatic defrosting, for instance. Therefore, the
measuring time needs to be adjusted to the given activities in order to measure correctly. The
system requires that all subjects assume obligation to have a way of checking the results of
temperature monitoring at any given moment (temperature probe, infrared probe etc.). It is
imperative that temperature probe be cleaned and disinfected before or after their use.
The HACCP System demands that subjects dealing with food keep records on specific forms,
like, for example, of the received goods. The form for delivery and receival of goods has to be
used by logistics firms, and they have to deliver following data: upon the loading of goods:
date, time and place, type of goods, quantity, temperature of the goods, signature provided by
the driver who received the goods, and the producer’s signature and seal; upon the delivery,
data that have to be recorded are: date, time and place, goods damage notice (if there is any),
type of goods, quantity, temperature of the goods, and signatures provided by the driver and
the storekeeper who received the goods. Before the loading, it is also necessary to write down
the registration of the vehicle and the proper methods of cleaning and maintaining the vehicle
before the loading.
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7. CONCLUSION
The main goal of a company involved in the modern ways of conducting business is to deliver
food products as quickly as possible, ensure a certain level of safety and quality, so as to
satisfy the growing needs of consumers. Food products go through every stage of the supply
chain (production, storage and sales), and for this reason, it is crucial to ensure its quality and
safety along the way from the farm to the buyer, i.e., “from the field to the table”. It is
therefore relevant to accentuate the importance of every link in the supply chain, because if
one link of the supply chain is endangered or missing, it affects the entire chain. The
participants in every phase of the chain are obliged to ensure the quality, sanitary safety and
traceability of food in line with all legislations, standards and norms, like, for example, Food
Law, HACCP and ISO 22000.
Bearing in mind that during the transportation food contamination can happen due to the
harmful effect of chemical, physical and biological factors, it is important to respect general
conditions of the HACCP Guide for Good Sanitary Practices for transportation of goods.
Because new diseases connected to food consummation have been arising ever more
frequently, at the beginning of 2000s, the European Union decided to change its former
approach on food safety by establishing unique regulations for all member states. As follows,
Croatian Standards Institute (HZN) was established in the Republic of Croatia, with the aim
of increasing the products safety level, protecting the environment, human health
preservation, promoting products and services quality, eliminating technical barriers in the
international trade. It also contributes to the quality and Croatian economy competitiveness.
8. LITERATURE
1. Baert, K., Devlieghere, F., Jacxsens, L., Debevere, J. (2005), Quality Management Systems
In: The Food Industry in Safety in the agri-food chain, Wageningen Academic Publishers.
2. Christopher, M. (2011), Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Prentice Hall Financial
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No. 4.
5. European Commission (2004), Form farm to fork: safe food for Europe's consumers.
Brussels: European Commission - Directorate General for Press and Communication
Publications.
6. Ferišak, V. (2006), Nabava: politika, strategija, organizacija, management, 2.
aktualizirano i dopunjeno izdanje, Vlastita naklada, Zagreb.
7. HAH (n/a), Osnovne upute za higijensku proizvodnju hrane, Vodza osobe koje posluju
hranom, [available at: http://www.hah.hr/pdf/osnovne_upute.pdf, accessed: 10.09.2015.]
13
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HACCP vodič, 1. izdanje, Zagreb.
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izvoznici.hr/vijesti/haccp-standard, accessed: 23.08.2015.]
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Sons, Inc.
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području logistike, Festival kvaliteta 2009, Vol. 40, No. 3, Kragujevac, [available at:
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12. Knežević, N., Đugum, J. i Frece, J. (2013), Sigurnost hrane u Hrvatskoj - pozadina i
izazovi, Časopis Meso, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 192-197.
13. Ministarstvo poljoprivrede (2013), Vodič za označavanje, reklamiranje i prezentiranje
hrane, 8. izdanje.
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zajednicu.
15. Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, ribarstva i ruralnog razvoja (2011), Uprava za sigurnost i
kvakvoću hrane. Vodič za sljedivost, povlačenje i opoziv hrane.
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in Agribusiness and Commerce, Vol. 6, No. 5, pp. 131-134.
17. Orris, G. D., Whitehead, A. J. (2000), Hazard analysis and critical control point
(HACCP) as a part of an overall quality assurance system in interantional food trade, Food
Control, Vol. 11, No. 5, pp. 345-351.
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Handbook, Wilely-IEEE, pp. 3-7.
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... H 0 4: Information technology does impact the performance of Oman's food supply chain. H 0 5: Food traceability does not impact Oman's food supply chain performance.Risks in food supply chain and food supply chain performance Food supply chain management is an old term that describes the systematic connection of different actors, people, activities, technologies, information and resources in the production and distribution of food23 . It's a combination of different specialisation and logistical steps and includes such phrases as 'farm to fork or paddock to plate'24 . ...
... Governments have a global responsibility to ensure that food security follows the expected standards. The concept 'from eld to table' allows responsible actors to have full control over food production up to consumption23 . The EU has been instrumental in ensuring that actors in food production comply with the safety standards. ...
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This study has offered an extensive analysis of the effectiveness of Oman’s food supply chain’s quality and safety management. The study focused on the complex relationships among several variables, such as information technology, food traceability, supply chain risks, performance measures, and food safety regulations, and how these elements all work together to shape the efficiency of the food supply chain. The research examined data gathered from middle- and top-level managers in Oman’s food supply chain using a practical research strategy that combined quantitative and qualitative approaches and employed structural equation modelling to investigate the interconnections and effects on the performance of the supply chain from the previously listed factors. The key findings of this research have demonstrated the vital significance of strict food safety measures by revealing a substantial positive association between food safety standards and the performance of the food supply chain. Information technology has been found to be a significant catalyst for improving regulatory compliance and supply chain performance. The mediation study has highlighted how information technology is interdependent with other elements and demonstrated how it supports the robustness, agility and resilience of supply chains. This study further established that improving food safety standards, utilising cutting-edge information technology to enhance compliance and traceability, implementing thorough risk management plans, encouraging cooperation among supply chain participants and raising consumer knowledge of food safety are important suggestions to improve public health and economic growth. These suggestions are meant to assist Oman’s food supply chain in being robust, effective and safe. The research provided valuable insights for supply chain professionals, policymakers, and researchers who are interested in food safety and supply chain management, especially in the context of Oman and other GCC countries.
... Strict food safety procedures must be put in place across the whole production and distribution chain in order to address the problem of microbial contamination in Indian sweets made with milk. This involves maintaining ideal storage temperatures, adhering to good hygiene and sanitation procedures during the preparation process, and routinely checking the manufacturing environment for potential sources of contamination (13,14) To reduce the danger of bacterial contamination, food manufacturers and vendors must get education and training on the best practices for food safety. Furthermore, regulatory agencies should create and enforce for these items' food safety requirements, doing routine inspections to verify compliance (15). ...
Article
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Milk is frequently used as a vital ingredient in the preparation of Indian sweets, which are renowned for their rich flavour and cultural significance. To guarantee consumer health, it is essential that these traditional treats are microbiologically safe. This study used the multiple tube test to evaluate the microbiological quality of milk- based Indian sweets sold in and around Kolkata. 80 samples in all were gathered, and the microbial contamination was examined. According to the findings, 64 of the 80 samples (or 80%) tested positively for different bacterial species. The identified bacterial strains included Acinetobacter baumannii (2.5%), Aeromonas schubertii (1.25%), Citrobacter freundii (2.5%), Citrobacter koseri (8.75%), Enterobacter cloacae (15%), Escherichia coli (12.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.5%), Klebsiella aerogenes (28.75%), and Klebsiella oxytoca (6.25%). The quality and safety of the region's milk-based Indian sweets are questioned by the presence of these pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria. The likelihood of foodborne infections linked to these sweets is shown by the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae members. Since these traditional treats are prepared, stored, and distributed by regulatory agencies and sweet vendors, strict hygiene and quality control standards must be put in place.
... The virus SARS-nCoV-2 and worldwide lockdowns showed a major problem in today's food supply chains-they are too long. The food chain contains five stages: "agricultural production, post-harvesting handling, processing, distribution/retail/service and consumption" [145]. The pandemic did not affect the production, post-harvesting and processing of the food beyond fewer workers or no workers showing up to their shift, but it massively affected the transportation segment by restricting movement and activities with other countries. ...
Article
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Malnutrition, food security and food safety will remain major global issues as the world’s population grows and the consequences of climate change prevail, so we need to rethink how we grow and source food to create sustainable systems for future generations. Edible cities, as innovative solutions to use public spaces for urban food production, can bridge this evident gap between the present and the future. The aim of this review was to analyze the opportunities and constraints for creating edible cities and accessing wholesome functional foods in a sustainable way and explore existing solutions that can be strengthened. We can grow food in urban environments using ideas such as controlled-environment farms (CEAs), home food gardens on balconies, roofs and terraces, underground farming and foraging. As citizens become more aware of complex foods with nutritional benefits, we should take this opportunity to teach them about edible wholesome functional foods and how they can be grown instead of using plants. There are still many constraints such as pollution, a lack of government support and the economic aspects of urban farms that need to be resolved in order for edible cities and access to functional foods in them to become the standard worldwide. The goal is worthwhile as citizens would benefit from climate control, reduced resource consumption, a safer food supply, improved mental and physical health, reduced malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies and connected communities that share knowledge and resources to further innovation and welfare.
... Food processing enterprises require the continuity of good quality supplies of raw materials in order to produce food which adapts to changing consumers' eating habits (Bendeković, Naletina, Iva, 2015;Cachon, Lariviere, 2005;Gazdecki, et al., A. Zielińska-Chmielewska, L. Abrayeva, E. Goryńska-Goldmann, SOLUTIONS MODELS FOR COFFEE WASTE PRODUCTS: EVIDENCE FROM EUROPE AND ASIA, Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczo-Humanistycznego w Siedlcach, Nr 132, Seria: Administracja i Zarządzanie (59) 2022. 2021; Łuczka, Kalinowski 2020; Rossi, 2020;Watson, 2020). ...
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In the light of current pandemic-related events, the exacerbation of the armed conflict on Ukrainian territory, and the increase in the price of fossil fuels, there has been a serious threat to the maintenance of resilient food chains, which can be countered by rationalizing the usage of raw materials and production sources, and increasing the use of post-production wastes of plant origin as a substitute for non-renewable energy. The aim of this research is to present the use of e-commerce instruments in sell-buy transactions of chosen coffee waste products. The theoretical part of the study consists of comparative and synthetic analyses. The revised public source of information coming from well- -known organizations are used. The practical part of the study consists of in-depth expert structured interviews (N = 8). The results of the study are multi-faceted. The practical business examples shown in the article demonstrates the possibility of introducing a bio-circular economy on a large scale in Europe and Asia. The results can be used by state institutions for the implementation of a bio-circular economy policy in various types of production activities, e.g. biomass, bioenergy, feed, supplements, drugs to fight obesity and diabetes, cosmetics.
... The first stage includes government-mandated conditions that are scrutinized. The second option is to use voluntary market legislation or international organizations to establish standards Fig. 6 Schematic representation of sustainable food supply chain system [42]. Manual hygiene includes the wearing of protective equipment like masks, helmets, and gloves. ...
Article
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Chronic hunger and malnutrition will eventually result from the population’s rapid growth. It is unlikely to succeed in tackling the rising challenges of delivering sustainable food for all people unless high attention is paid on the function of food processing to ensure the supply of stable food. It is impossible to overstate the importance of developing food processing and preservation technologies that can reduce food losses and wastage during surplus seasons. Therefore, sustainable food systems must be developed to provide healthy diets without damaging our world and its resources. The goal is to use various perspectives to confirm why food processing is crucial to future food supply. It is important to show the appropriate utilization of sustainability factors and effect assessments to construct for feeding the globe while staying within planetary limits. There has never been a better time to assure a plentiful food supply to feed the people than right now, when the population is expanding at a worrying rate. The sustainable food project seeks to move the food systems in a long-term, more equitable direction. Food processing, or the conversion of raw materials into functional, edible, and consumer acceptable food, is a critical link in the food value chain between consumption and production. This review looked at various existing and emerging food processing followed by preservation techniques. Food systems must also attempt to reduce food waste and losses, as well as the current and future impacts on the environment and society, to be sustainable.
... Their coordination is necessary for the proper functioning of the chain and for the attainment of defined business goals. The proper organization of these elements between the stakeholders is referred to as supply chain management (Bendeković, Naletina & Nola, 2015). ...
Article
Full-text available
Este artículo aborda algunos temas relacionados con el funcionamiento de la cadena de suministro agroalimentaria. Cuando está debidamente estructurada, la cadena tiende a estabilizarse y permite salvaguardar la rentabilidad de las actividades agrícolas. Los clústeres agroalimentarios pueden desempeñar un papel particular en este contexto. Por lo tanto, el propósito de este documento es evaluar las soluciones legales implementadas a nivel nacional y de la Unión que afectan directa o indirectamente la forma en que existen y funcionan los clústeres. Se concluyó que los clústeres son una herramienta para la política agrícola vigente. Deben verse como un método de colaboración entre operadores activos en diferentes etapas de la cadena de suministro y como una forma de desarrollar los eslabones individuales de la cadena (productores agrícolas, empresas, etc.). Dado que pueden establecerse libremente y son elegibles para el apoyo estatal en un entorno legal amigable, son un facilitador de redes de colaboración y relaciones económicas.
... Food and safety standards are categorised according to the nature of the products manufactured and the type of manufacturers (Bendeković, Naletina and Nola, 2015). These range from generic food manufacturers through to including private and public manufacturers. ...
Thesis
Advancements in technology have exerted pressure on organisations to improve their businesses in order to provide customers with goods and services of a high quality at a lower cost. This has prompted firms to find the means of meeting their customer’s needs. One way of doing so is through the implementation of supply chain management (SCM) practices. SCM improves the performance of the firms through a reduction in costs, additionally enhancing productivity, reducing lead times and managing inventories, all of which enables the firms to deliver what the customers expect. Although the benefits of SCM have been documented by various researchers, the majority of studies have focused on large enterprises, whereas small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been neglected in contrast. Little research has been conducted on SMEs and SCMs. Furthermore, with regard to the food manufacturing sector in Tanzania, previous studies have focused on the entire industry while others have focused on raw agricultural products only. This research aimed to access the SCM implementation in food manufacturing SMEs in Dar es Salaam and to identify the challenges related to providing recommendations on how to effectively implement SCM to improve SME performance. A mixed-method approach was employed in this study; 13 interviews were conducted and 180 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. The data collected was analysed using NVIVO 12 and SPSS 25. The findings reveal that the implementation of SCM practices in food manufacturing SMEs in Dar es Salaam is still in the developmental stage. SMEs are unable to implement SCM effectively into their current practices due to poor supplier relationships, low knowledge regarding SCM, poor management, poor investment in technology and financial constraints. To overcome these issues, measures such as support from the government, the integration of SMEs, investment in technology, financial aid and SCM training are recommended. This work contributes to the literature on SCM practices and SMEs. This is where limited research has been conducted, especially in developing countries. For practitioners in Tanzania and other developing nations, this study confirms that SCM practices enhance SME performance and this study can thus serve as a reference when seeking to understand SCM-related problems and how to overcome them.
Chapter
This growing phenomenon of the use of the online channel for the purchase of food products requires a deep and detailed analysis to understand all the factors involved in the decision of consumers to opt for this new purchasing channel and everything that this decision encompasses, which allows developing business strategies and public policies that maximize benefits and reduce risks linked to the adoption of this purchase-sale modality in this category of products. For this reason, this article carries out a bibliometric study, through the Bibliometrix tool, which seeks to evaluate the scientific-academic interest in this topic, its main areas of research, the regions involved and the impact of these studies, resulting in a phenomenon of global interest already consolidated as a focus of research, whose areas of study have been evolving to adapt to the emerging needs of the sector, and with both academic and practical implications, becoming an important tool to respond to the changing demands of the consumer and society, especially in terms of consumption habits, convenience, logistics efficiency and sustainability.
Chapter
The scope of global food technology market was estimated at USD 184.30 billion in 2023, USD 202.62 billion in 2024, and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.79% from 2024 to 2034, reaching approximately USD 515.83 billion. Technology is driving the growth of the food industry in various positive ways such as online food delivery in minutes, quality assessment, customer reviews, reducing hunger, and the like. But together with several advantages it also carries concerns like job displacement, food safety/security issues, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. To overcome these challenges, redesigning the digital food plate is critical in the form of concrete guidelines and regulations. Considering the above perspective, this chapter, adopting the analytical method, examines the role of digital and emerging technologies in shaping the food industry. Furthermore, it critically evaluates the way forward towards sustainability.
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The chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of food safety issues, contaminants, and regulatory frameworks specifically associated with cereals. As staple foods, cereals are susceptible to various chemical, biological, and physical contaminants that pose significant health risks. The analysis includes the occurrence and impact of pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pathogens. Additionally, it addresses the mechanisms of cross-contamination and the implications of genetically modified organisms. The discussion extends to current legislative frameworks governing cereal safety, highlighting international standards and regulatory practices. Strategies for contaminant mitigation and best practices for maintaining cereal safety throughout the supply chain are also presented. This thorough overview aims to inform ongoing efforts to enhance food safety and ensure the integrity of cereal products in the global market.
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Disaster response supply chains face most of the same challenges as commercial supply chains, and they also face two additional challenges: 1. High Levels of Unpredictability - commercial supply chains are based on planning and predictability, but because disasters are not planned, disaster response supply chains must operate in highly unpredictable environments. 2. Ad Hoc Organization - disaster response supply chains do not exist before a disaster occurs, so they are assembled quickly when needed, and ways must be found to coordinate these supply chains where there are often no clear lines of authority among the many different participants involved. (4) (PDF) Essentials of Supply Chain Management. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323558264_Essentials_of_Supply_Chain_Management [accessed Dec 08 2021].
Article
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Today, companies do not compete individually on the market, but as members of a supply chain, delivering their goods or services to customers through shared collaboration. The main objective of the members in the chain is to satisfy customer needs, in the interest of which they cooperate in value adding processes. The main objective of the present study is to characterise the members of a supply chain, their relationship and to measure performance. The most relevant literature published on this topic states that investigation of the performance measurement in supply chains from the side of relationships is considered ‘uncharted territory’. However, the operation of a supply chain cannot be described without investigating its relationships.
Article
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Practitioners and educators have variously addressed the concept of supply chain management (SCM) as an extension of logistics, the same as logistics, or as an all-encompassing approach to business integration. Based on a review of the literature and management practice, it is clear that there is a need for some level of coordination of activities and processes within and between organizations in the supply chain that extends beyond logistics. We believe that this is what should be called SCM. This article proposes a conceptual model that provides guidance for future supply chain decision-making and research.
Article
Purpose – Environmental conditions in a food manufacturing plant have a great impact on food safety and product quality. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the various components that make up the environment or contribute to the quality of the environment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the way in which the air quality in the factory environment is defined, and discusses the affect that staff flow, product flow and factory finishes has on the environmental conditions in the factory. Findings – There is no clearly defined guideline which adequately covers the environmental control of food plants. Originality/value – The concept of defining food plant environments by way of cleanroom classification is relatively new in the food industry.
Chapter
Half TitleTitleCopyrightContentsPreface
Article
Food quality assurance systems of one sort or another are necessary at every segment of the food chain and in every sector of the food industry to ensure the quality and safety of food. On the one hand governments have the responsibility of establishing the standards, legislation and enforcement programs necessary to control food quality and safety. On the other hand industry has the responsibility on implementing quality assurance systems, including HACCP, where necessary to ensure compliance with the standards and legislation.
Quality Management Systems In: The Food Industry in Safety in the agri-food chain
  • K Baert
  • F Devlieghere
  • L Jacxsens
  • J Debevere
Baert, K., Devlieghere, F., Jacxsens, L., Debevere, J. (2005), Quality Management Systems In: The Food Industry in Safety in the agri-food chain, Wageningen Academic Publishers.
Form farm to fork: safe food for Europe's consumers
European Commission (2004), Form farm to fork: safe food for Europe's consumers. Brussels: European Commission -Directorate General for Press and Communication Publications.
Nabava: politika, strategija, organizacija, management, 2. aktualizirano i dopunjeno izdanje, Vlastita naklada
  • V Ferišak
Ferišak, V. (2006), Nabava: politika, strategija, organizacija, management, 2. aktualizirano i dopunjeno izdanje, Vlastita naklada, Zagreb.
Sigurnost hrane u Hrvatskoj -pozadina i izazovi
  • N Knežević
  • J Đugum
  • J Frece
Knežević, N., Đugum, J. i Frece, J. (2013), Sigurnost hrane u Hrvatskoj -pozadina i izazovi, Časopis Meso, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 192-197.