Every year, millions of Americans are affected by foodborne illnesses—many of which can be prevented through smarter processes and better equipment. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) continues to shape how animal food manufacturers operate, placing a sharp focus on Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) and preventive controls. In this post, we’ll explore what CGMPs mean for your facility, how preventive controls work, and how equipment like stainless steel heat exchangers can support your compliance efforts.
What Are CGMPs and Why Do They Matter?
CGMPs provide the foundation for a clean, safe manufacturing environment. In the animal food sector, these practices cover critical areas like:
- Sanitation and hygiene
- Water quality and environmental conditions
- Personnel training
- Equipment design and maintenance
According to the FDA, these practices reflect actions that manufacturers should already be taking as part of their daily operations. The goal is to prevent contamination from ever occurring—not just respond to it after the fact.
For example, equipment used in production should be:
- Easy to clean
- Made from nontoxic materials
- Properly maintained
- Designed to prevent contamination
Going Beyond the Basics: Preventive Controls
Once CGMPs are in place, manufacturers must take it a step further with preventive controls. These are tailored strategies based on the specific risks at your facility. Preventive controls include:
- Process controls (e.g., heating, cooling, or mixing steps)
- Sanitation controls to reduce pathogens or physical hazards
- Supply chain controls to ensure incoming materials are safe
- Recall plans in case contamination does occur
Each facility must develop a written food safety plan, including a hazard analysis and the measures in place to minimize those risks. Redundancy is encouraged—if one safety step fails, another should catch the issue before it impacts product quality or public health.
How Equipment Choices Support Compliance
Your process equipment plays a huge role in meeting FSMA expectations. That’s why many manufacturers choose stainless steel shell and tube heat exchangers. They offer several CGMP-aligned advantages:
- Sanitary design: Stainless steel is non-reactive and easy to clean.
- Durability: It holds up well under pressure and resists corrosion.
- Ease of maintenance: Options like straight-tube or removable U-tube bundles simplify cleaning and inspections.
It’s also important to monitor equipment for signs of wear and tear. High-pressure differentials can cause stress cracks or leaks over time, which could lead to contamination—especially if the water or fluids used aren’t food-grade.
Regular inspections and timely repairs or replacements are key. A proactive maintenance plan not only protects your product but keeps you in line with FDA expectations.
Stay Ahead of Compliance
While FSMA inspections are now well underway, staying compliant is an ongoing process. Reviewing your food safety plan, employee training programs, and equipment regularly will help keep your operations safe and audit-ready.
If you’re evaluating new equipment or upgrading existing systems to meet CGMP standards, Enerquip’s stainless steel heat exchangers are designed with compliance in mind.
Contact us to learn how we can support your food safety goals.