As a meat packaging company, it’s critical that you do everything you can to protect your clients’ products and its packaging.
Certified product disposal, or certified product destruction, can help. Certified product disposal is the process whereby products and their packaging are destroyed or disposed of safely when there is an issue with the final product. The process is authenticated in order to ensure that the product is not being resold or utilized illegally or improperly.
Here are some important reasons why meat packaging companies need certified product disposal as part of their operations, and what you should look for in a reputable company.
Stolen Goods Can Be Costly
The opportunities are endless for unscrupulous characters who acquire the meat products you’re responsible for
packaging.
Thieves may intend to resell the meat, taking the full profit from the stolen goods. They may take the packaging the meat originally came in and insert lesser-quality meat while leaving consumers to believe they are getting the higher-quality meat.
As packaging companies, you may be on the hook by the manufacturer for any profits lost, especially is the manufacturer can prove the theft was the result of your negligence.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are several other reasons why proper disposal is important in the meat packaging industry.
You Have Expired Products
As a perishable product, meat has expiration dates. If you are in possession of expired meat that can no longer go to its next retail destination, you must safely dispose of it. Food safety is a critical issue when it comes to human consumption, and you don’t want to be on the wrong side of it.
Food destruction services will take care of the problem, but it’s critical that you make sure this process is documented … something certified product disposal can offer. Without the proper precautions in place, there is a risk that your client’s less-than-fresh product will end up at a discount retailer or sold second-hand.
This information can hurt not only the brand’s reputation, but your reputation as a packaging company as well.
The Meat Is Tainted
Tainted products happen in the food industry. Look no further than the news to hear about listeria, salmonella and
E.coli outbreaks, not to mention contamination from foreign matter that was overlooked during the food production process but later discovered.
Even during the packaging process, foreign matter can enter into the food through faulty equipment or human error, despite having the highest standards. This will result in the need for the meat to be safely disposed of so that it doesn’t end up in grocery store refrigerators.
There is also the possibility that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may request a recall when a problem is spotted during a facility inspection.
No company is immune, small family farms or major meat companies, so it’s important to have a response ready in the event you must handle the product disposal. A product disposal company with experience in food destruction will provide evidence of product disposal, limiting your liability.
Packaging Is Improperly Labeled
If the meat product is safe, but the labeling on the outside of the package is wrong, you will need to dispose of the incorrect packaging as well as possibly the meat.
In 2019, Cooked Perfect Brand recalled more than 53,000 pounds of frozen ready-to-eat beef and pork meatball products for misbranding and undeclared allergens on the product labels.
Even if you go through the process of disposing of the incorrect labeling, unless you ensure the disposal process has occurred, your labels may end up in the hands of individuals who sell their own meat under your client’s brand.
How To Find A Certified Product Disposal Company
When evaluating a quality certified product disposal company to work with, make sure it is:
- Experienced in handling food and packaging disposal, specifically in the meat industry
- Is certified, licensed and bonded properly in your state
- Has a specific, tailored plan for disposal of your waste
- Can transport your waste to the appropriate facility, even if it is anywhere in the United States
- Will provide evidence of the entire removal and disposal process
- Has surveillance of its storage areas 24/7
Working with a certified product disposal company can provide your packaging business with peace of mind. After all, your reputation is just as much at risk as the customers you serve.
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