With recent investigations by the Food Standards Agency into compliance of hygiene regulations, many food production factories and supermarkets are looking at CCTV surveillance solutions to help retain the trust of their customers.
Slaughterhouses in England are now required by law to have CCTV surveillance operative. This mandatory surveillance requirement, which came into force in 2018, ensures high welfare standards are maintained and gives inspectors full access to footage. Given the success in improving accountability, only time will tell if the FSA implements similar requirements across all food manufacturing plants. Extending the law would give authorities unprecedented access to a site’s CCTV footage and would help reduce the number of costly and time-consuming investigations.
However, it’s not just monitoring compliance to industry regulations that food manufacturers are considering. With intelligent video analytics now more commonplace, CCTV systems can be used for monitoring performance of food production rates, identifying production line errors and monitoring wash/decontamination areas. These advanced systems are becoming essential tools, not just for security and compliance, but as a critical part of a modern manufacturing operation’s efficiency toolkit.
The food industry faces a unique combination of regulatory scrutiny, high-volume production demands, and vulnerability to contamination or internal theft. Modern security solutions must address all these facets. For instance, the sheer scale of the UK food and drink manufacturing sector, which contributed £37 billion to the UK economy, highlights the massive economic and reputational risk associated with any failure in compliance or safety. Proactive security and surveillance are no longer optional, they are a core business requirement.
Beyond traditional physical security, new threats demand an evolved response. The rising complexity of global supply chains and the need for stringent temperature control in logistics, particularly in the cold chain, mean that a comprehensive security strategy must extend to areas like logistics and warehouse operations. Implementing integrated systems ensures that a potential breach, whether a security threat or a hygiene lapse, is detected immediately, minimising damage and financial loss. Furthermore, the convergence of physical and cyber security is now critical. As documented by research from major consulting firms, the manufacturing sector, including food and beverage, is an increasing target for cyber-attacks aimed at disrupting operations, making secure, cloud-based security systems an essential investment.
Here we look at some of the security systems recommended for food manufacturing sites.
To preserve brand reputation and customer trust, there are two main systems any food production site should have.
It’s imperative to protect access to all parts of the site. From access to the site via gates/barriers, through to specified access to restricted areas of the food production floor, determining and controlling both employees’ and visitors’ access around the site is crucial. Access control systems can pinpoint individuals’ locations, deny unauthorised access, and log staff attendance and timekeeping. This level of control is vital for maintaining hygiene zones and is particularly useful in environments like healthcare facilities where sterile conditions are paramount. To understand the different approaches available, you can read our guide on the four types of access control.
From general site security against break-ins and unauthorised access, through to intelligent video analytics monitoring food production rates, food production errors and more, CCTV systems form an intrinsic part of your site security systems. Many types of surveillance cameras are available to suit the specific need and purpose for each individual area being monitored, helping businesses adhere to UK CCTV regulations. Furthermore, combining CCTV with smart features can greatly enhance your security, as discussed in our piece on smart security solutions.
Becoming embroiled in food production scandals can break a business, closing it down for good. By having CCTV cameras monitoring areas such as food production lines, food storage areas, decontamination rooms and packaging processes, you instantly demonstrate commitment to quality and compliance, an approach increasingly mirrored in waste management operations. This commitment directly impacts consumer trust and investor confidence.
Unfortunately, deceptive practices do still occur in the food production industry. While the 2013 horse meat scandal remains a stark reminder, modern concerns focus heavily on allergen control and labelling accuracy. Installing CCTV encourages customer confidence and ensures you are compliant with the latest CCTV regulations and data protection laws. Also, should any food contamination issues occur, you can quickly access footage to pinpoint the cause, which is crucial for internal investigations and managing legal liability, as explored in our guide on how to build a security-first culture.
Utilising intelligent video analytics, food factories can automatically identify production errors without relying on human oversight, and also monitor decontamination processes. These smart solutions are now integral to smart building technology.
With many manufacturers supplying the major supermarkets, keeping production costs to a minimum helps to meet price-driven demands. Consequently, intelligent video systems can monitor production rates, identify areas of concern and improvement, and automatically spot production line errors. This focus on efficiency is also critical in competitive sectors like retail.
Whilst installing security systems will help deter crime in any industry, food manufacturing is open to crime of many types. Below are some updated insights on crime in the manufacturing sector:
A recent report highlighted that 33% of UK businesses experienced economic crime in the prior two years, with manufacturers frequently targeted for fraud, including misappropriation of assets and cybercrime.
With the risk of economic crime and internal fraud remaining significant in the sector, and with consumer confidence constantly under review due to potential scandals, installing robust security systems along with intelligent video analytics is imperative to secure business reputation, protect against food production sabotage, and improve overall operational efficiency and food production rates. This holistic approach ensures not only compliance but also sustained profitability.
BusinessWatch specialise in installing and maintaining intelligent video and security systems for food manufacturing plants.
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