Know: Product Specifications

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Product Specifications

Introduction

Product specifications are detailed descriptions of the characteristics, attributes, and quality standards that a food product must meet. Product specifications serve as a key reference point for all stages of production, quality control, and supply chain management. By clearly defining what constitutes an acceptable product, specifications help ensure consistency, safety, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

In food manufacturing, product specifications are important tools for maintaining the quality of the product, managing customer expectations, and facilitating communication between suppliers, manufacturers, and customers.

Importance of Product Specifications

1. Ensures Consistency: Product specifications provide a clear and consistent benchmark for manufacturing processes, helping to maintain product uniformity in terms of size, shape, taste, appearance, and nutritional value.
2. Quality Assurance: Well-defined specifications enable manufacturers to monitor production processes and identify deviations early, preventing defective or substandard products from reaching the market.
3. Compliance with Regulations: Product specifications help ensure that food products meet the legal and regulatory requirements set by authorities such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the UK or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US.
4. Customer Expectations: Clear specifications ensure that the product delivered meets the expectations of customers in terms of taste, packaging, nutritional content, and safety, helping to build consumer trust and brand loyalty.

Key Elements of Product Specifications

Product specifications typically cover a broad range of factors, including:

1. Product Description
• This includes a detailed description of the product’s appearance, texture, flavour, and intended use. It may also outline the product’s packaging and storage requirements.
• Example: “Frozen diced strawberries, uniform size 1cm, no added preservatives.”
2. Ingredients List
• A comprehensive list of all ingredients used in the product, listed in descending order of weight. This helps ensure transparency and allows for easier compliance with food labelling regulations.
• Example: “Ingredients: Strawberries (95%), Sugar (5%).”
3. Nutritional Information
• Nutritional specifications outline the product’s nutritional content per serving (or per 100g). This may include calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals.
4. Microbiological Standards
• Specifications define the acceptable limits for microbial load, such as limits for Salmonella, E. coli, and other pathogens, as well as total microbial counts.
• Example: “Total viable count: ≤10,000 cfu/g; E. coli: <10cfu/g.”
5. Physical and Sensory Characteristics
• These include size, shape, colour, and texture of the product, often accompanied by sensory attributes (such as flavour and aroma) based on testing panels.
• Example: “Appearance: Bright red, uniform size, with no visible bruising or defects. Flavour: Sweet with slight tartness.”
6. Chemical Parameters
• These include acceptable limits for chemical characteristics such as pH, moisture content, acidity, and other relevant attributes that affect the safety and stability of the product.
• Example: “pH: 3.5–4.0; Moisture content: ≤10%.”
7. Packaging and Labelling Requirements
• Specifications should outline the type of packaging (e.g., vacuum-sealed, carton, jar), the materials used, and labelling requirements, including product name, ingredient list, nutritional information, storage instructions, and expiration dates.
• Example: “Packaged in a 500g plastic bag with a resealable zip. Label includes best before date, storage instructions, and nutritional information.”
8. Storage and Handling Instructions
• These instructions specify how the product should be stored during distribution and retail, including temperature control, handling procedures, and shelf life.
• Example: “Store frozen at -18°C. Do not refreeze once thawed.”
9. Shelf Life and Expiry Dates
• The expected shelf life, based on testing and analysis, is clearly stated, alongside the relevant expiration or best-before date.
• Example: “Best before: 12 months from manufacture.”
10. Regulatory Compliance
• Product specifications should clearly state that the product complies with relevant food safety and quality regulations, including certifications like organic, halal, kosher, or allergen-free status, depending on the target market.
• Example: “This product is certified fairtrade and suitable for vegetarians.”

Types of Product Specifications

1. Raw Material Specifications
   These specifications describe the quality and characteristics of raw materials that will be used in the production process. They may cover everything from ingredients to packaging materials.
2. Finished Product Specifications
   These are the final specifications of the product after it has been manufactured. Finished product specifications ensure that the product is in line with the expected quality and regulatory standards before it is released to the market.

Establishing Product Specifications

Establishing product specifications requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving:

1. Cross-functional Teams: Quality control (QC), R&D, food safety, regulatory affairs, and marketing teams must collaborate to ensure that all product specifications align with safety, regulatory, and consumer expectations.
2. Data Collection and Testing: Product specifications should be based on laboratory testing, shelf life studies, sensory evaluations, factory trials, and market research to understand consumer preferences and identify quality benchmarks.
3. Regulatory Considerations: Ensure that product specifications comply with the local and international regulations for food safety and labeling (e.g., FDA in the USA, EFSA in the EU).
4. Continuous Review: Specifications should be regularly reviewed and updated based on new scientific findings, regulatory changes, consumer feedback, or modifications to the product.

Communicating Product Specifications

Clear communication of product specifications is essential for all stakeholders involved in the supply chain, including:

• Suppliers: To ensure they meet the necessary quality and safety standards.
• Manufacturing teams: To ensure they follow the proper processes and maintain consistency in production.
• Customers: To ensure transparency and enable shared expectations and agreements over product characteristics.

Product specifications are typically documented and stored as part of the company’s quality management system (QMS), often shared with suppliers, distributors, and other stakeholders as necessary.

Conclusion

Product specifications are foundational to the food manufacturing process, ensuring that products meet quality, safety, and regulatory standards. By defining all aspects of a product, from ingredients and packaging to storage conditions and shelf life, these specifications help manufacturers deliver consistent and safe products to consumers. Effective product specifications enhance operational efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and ultimately build consumer trust in the brand.

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