NSF 3A standards for meat & poultry in the food industry

Forpak has been designing and building innovative solutions for food packaging and processing for more than 30 years. Our commitment to providing state-of-the-art systems to customers across the globe means we continue to uphold our own values and meet strict industry standards that the FDA, USDA, and ANSI set for the food industry. Because hygiene and sanitation are critical to protecting the health and safety of food consumers throughout the world, each facet of the industry must follow and uphold rigorous standards and laws. Our current food growing, processing, storing, and distributing systems are capable of supplying foods from many different countries to communities year-round, thanks to massive changes in industrial regulations over the last 100 years. Forpak equipment is well-suited to supporting the current food system, and it can easily be integrated into existing production lines.

Our equipment improves the efficiency of many different downstream production lines, adding seamless operations for laning, sorting, stacking, conveyors, autotransfers, reject systems, and more. We also work with clients to build custom systems that can meet specialized facility needs. For the meat and poultry industries in particular, our equipment meets NSF 3A sanitation standards.

The NSF 3A standards were put in place to regulate the sanitary qualities of processing equipment. Hygiene is important for all aspects of the food industry, but for meat and poultry production it is especially critical because of the many foodborne illnesses that can be carried in beef, chicken, turkey, pork, and others.

The 101 on NSF 3A food industry standards.

3A standards often pair with different FDA and ANSI compliances, but they more specifically regulate the equipment itself and the materials used in its making. Surface treatments, coatings, construction, and longevity of equipment are all called into question when gaining 3A certifications. 3A standards do not cover operator safety, handheld tools, and other aspects of a meat and poultry packing facility.

All Forpak equipment meets NSF 3A standards.

Forpak equipment is able to meet every 3A standard because of its full washdown capabilities, use of food-grade stainless steel and durable plastics, NEMA 4X enclosures, and anti-harborage designs. To help eliminate production downtime, our equipment can be quickly and thoroughly sanitized with high-powered washing tools. Our enclosed Allen Bradley controls also eliminate the need for direct human interaction with our automated equipment. Forpak designs are long-lasting systems that have a low risk of cracking, breaking, chipping, or dissolving even over years of heavy use. If you are looking for the best-quality automated solutions to add to your production line, you won’t find better than Forpak equipment.

The NSF 3A standards for meat and poultry are meant to protect a safe food industry system that can handle large-scale production and a global supply. We continue to meet those strict standards in addition to other international standards for every aspect of the packaging and assembly industry.

To learn more about our equipment, contact Forpak at (952) 491-6975 or support@forpak.com. Request more information online or request a quote to get started with us today.