Introduction

In a modern society consumerism grows rapidly. As more goods are being produced, there is more to consume. The same applies in food industry. Consumption of food is on the increase along with products available. A high demand for a variety of food choices for any dietary requirements increases the number of foods available, so consumerism continues to rise.

In the food industry, the front of house is booming as customers are enjoying themselves with ever easier ways of spending money on food and drinks. In this fast paced environment, it is vital to ensure that the quality of food meets highest hygiene and safety standards. Allergen information need to be clearly stated on the menu or a food label, so customers are aware of what they are eating to avoid an incident. Thousands of people have different food allergies and intolerances, so correct food labeling can be a life-saving solution.

Human error can damage a brand

In the back of house, employees spend many hours reviewing expiration dates and marking food preparation labels. Handwriting takes time and can be misread if not clearly written. Furthermore, according to the latest food regulations, any ready prepared food should have allergen, calorie and nutrition information clearly presented on a label for the consumer. The same applies to freshly prepared food where use by dates is key to maintaining high standards.

Time is money in business. The more time spent on handwriting labels means less time spent on improving the service of a brand. People like brands and they trust them – that is one of the reasons why they return to them.

Nonetheless, food safety and quality should be in first place. Any human error can easily destroy a brand, so each brand should have an action plan on how to avoid errors and succeed.

Using handwritten labels can be confusing at times. Some pens take longer to dry and can cause smearing, so something as fundamental as using the incorrect pen can increase the chances of an error.

The importance of allergen labelling

According to the latest food regulations, allergenic ingredients must be specified in the list of ingredients with a clear reference to the name of the substance. There are 14 main allergens that must be indicated in a food label. The allergenic ingredients have to be written using a typeset that differentiates it from the rest of the ingredients.

What is a food allergy? It is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating a certain food. Even the smallest amount of allergy-causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problems, hives or swollen airways. Food allergies usually cause relatively mild and minor symptoms but some food allergies can cause severe reactions that may be life-threatening.

The best way to prevent an allergic reaction is to avoid the substance that you are allergic to, so being able to quickly recognise allergens on a food label is a solution. It is an important measure to prevent serious health consequences.

Solution 

Automated printing systems can replace handwritten labels saving time and money. Handwriting adds time to the food labelling process that employees could spend on other important duties that can help to make your brand more successful.

It takes a long time to build a trustworthy brand and time to maintain it. A single error can cause so much damage that may take weeks and huge sums of money to recover. An automated system can help to reduce chances of errors and save money and time. A system can be set up quickly and amendments can be made at anytime when required.

An automated system can calculate and print the correct “use by” and expiration dates in no time, which is efficient for back of house and Grab & Go food labelling. Using the latest food labelling technologies helps to comply with food safety requirements and regulations. Automated systems also help to bring a higher return on investment and are easy to set up and use.

A solution that is right on your doorstep

As food labelling technology develops, there are more solutions on offer. Standalone label printers, heavy duty label printers, manual labellers also known as label guns and management tools. Automation is a tool to help chefs who are expected to remember hundreds of shelf lives and expiry dates to save time on food labelling and avoid putting customers at risk if the food has not been labelled correctly.

A quick and easy solution for any food preparation 

A flexible food labeling solution designed to produce legible detailed food labels that comply with food safety standards. Pre-loaded data simplifies food labeling and eliminates mistakes in calculating food expiration dates.

This solution helps to maintain accurate shelf-life, nutrition and ingredient labels. Menu updates are automated and secure, so there is no stress to make changes to the menu. A printer has an option for video and document viewing that is useful in a busy kitchen as well as integrated barcodes for Point-of-Sale or inventory scanning. It also includes a timer to track food prep.

Grab & Go labelling solutions – effortless label printing for complex operations

A multifuctional, next-generation label printer that is suited to a the food industry due to its highly-customisable application technology and ability to adapt to its environment is ideal for Grab & Go labelling.

A printer benefits from optimised applications for food labelling needs and reduced space demands due to its ability being wall-mounted, portable, hand-held or for trolley use. It is also compatible with eco-friendly and linerless labels for brands that have a high eco profile. A printer also has a multi-purpose asset including label printer, operator video training tool, compliance monitoring and management tool.