Color coding is an ongoing initiative in order to help ensure food safety for consumers. Meaning no matter where your organization may be in its color-coding journey, there is always something new to learn. But every journey has a beginning. And whether you’re new to the food manufacturing industry or the plant itself is new to the industry, Nelson-Jameson has a simple breakdown of color coding for food, dairy, and beverage manufacturers.
Want to go deeper? Check out our complete guide to color coding and see our buyer’s guide to color coding in food manufacturing here.
Color Coding 101: What you need to know
Let's begin with the question: "What exactly is 'color coding' in the world of food manufacturing?" Put simply, color coding is a visual system used in food manufacturing to organize and separate different areas, equipment, and tools to prevent cross-contamination and maintain food safety. It involves assigning specific colors to different categories, such as:
- Raw vs. Cooked Products: Separate colors for areas, tools, and equipment used for raw and cooked products.
- Allergens: Designate colors for specific allergens (e.g., peanuts, soy, gluten) to prevent cross-contamination.
- Zones: Assign colors to different processing zones (e.g., receiving, storage, processing, packaging) to maintain separation.
- Cleaning Tools: Use different colors for cleaning tools used in various areas to prevent the spread of contaminants.
It can also be used for things such as Lockout Tagout systems to distinguish between:
- Authorized personnel
- Types of energy sources
- Departments or work areas
Watch our webinar: Communicate & Iterate -- Why Improving Color-Coding is an Ongoing Initiative
What are the benefits of a color color-coding program
Even though color-coding itself is simple, the benefits are powerful. And they’re benefits that will positively impact the bottom line while keeping consumers safe. Here are just a few of the benefits to color coding:
- Reduces Cross-Contamination: Color coding helps prevent cross-contamination by visually separating different categories, minimizing the risk of foodborne illnesses and recalls.
- Enhances Food Safety: By maintaining clear segregation, color coding promotes a safe food handling environment.
- Improves Organization: Color coding creates a clear visual system, making it easier for employees to identify and locate the correct tools and equipment.
- Simplifies Training: Color coding simplifies training for new employees, as the system is easy to understand and remember.
- Increases Efficiency: Color coding streamlines processes, reduces errors, and improves overall efficiency.
How to implement a color-coding program
The system is simple. The benefits are clear. But how does a food manufacturing facility start and implement a complete color-coding system? Below are the easy steps you can take. However, if you’d like help assessing your need and getting started, Nelson-Jameson and Vikan can help with that, too.
- Develop a Plan: Determine the specific needs of your facility and create a comprehensive color-coding plan that addresses all potential cross-contamination risks.
- Choose Colors: Select colors that are easily distinguishable and have clear meanings for your employees and visitors.
- Communicate: Clearly communicate the color-coding system to all employees through training, visual aids, and signage.
- Implement: Apply color-coding to equipment, tools, storage containers, and designated areas.
- Monitor and Evaluate: Regularly monitor the effectiveness of the color-coding system and make adjustments as needed.
Best practices for color coding
Now that you know the basics of color coding, Nelson-Jameson has some tips for continued success with your program to help promote food safety in your facility:
- Stay Consistent: Maintain consistency in the application of the color-coding system throughout the facility.
- Make it Visible: Ensure that color-coded items are easily visible and identifiable.
- Keep Documentation: Document the color-coding system and provide clear explanations of the meanings of each color.
- Conduct Regular Reviews: Review and update the color-coding system periodically to ensure its effectiveness and relevance.
Your color-coding supplier
Nelson-Jameson brings together the most extensive collection of color-coded products for material handling, product handling, janitorial, safety, apparel, QA/QC, and metal-detectable applications specifically for food manufacturers. Check out our buyer’s guide to see our entire lineup of color-coding tools. Want a color-coding assessment for your facility? Start with Nelson-Jameson today.
Tiffini Pieper
Product Manager - MRO Products
