The Standards Imported Foods Must Reach
Knowing that the ingredients you use in your private food label meet the highest standards is very important. Consumers have always demanded their food is safe to eat. In recent years, though, consumers are also demanding that the ingredients are obtained with fair compensation to the grower.
Regulations Governing The Importation Of Food Products Into The United States
Under U.S. law, the FDA has stipulated that imported foods to be used in products destined for interstate commerce within its borders must be labeled according to U.S. requirements and be safe and sanitary. It doesn’t sanction every individual using shipment products, only the cargo itself.
FDA regulations indicate that facilities that store, produce, and handle international products must be FDA registered. Notice must also be given to the FDA about any shipment so it can be subject to inspection. The FDA reserves the right to detain any imported product if it is not compliant with the regulations and requirements.
Consumers
Now you know what the government needs from imported foods, but what about the consumer? With the rise of social conscience and responsibility, it is becoming more important to indicate a product is manufactured using fair-trade ingredients. Safety and quality are also a significant concern for a growing number of consumers. This is why most private food label manufacturers are turning to reputable and highly-regarded bulk and wholesale food importers, such as Linbro, to source socially-responsible ingredients for them.
Food importers have a system of checks and balances in place that ensure the ingredients they export to other countries meet the high standards laid down by the FDA as well as the ethical practices and sustainability that consumers are demanding. The teams that supply international products make regular visits to producers and crop growers to inspect farms and facilities. This is an important adjunct to supporting local sustainability, growth, and education.
Cost And Pricing
Given that the food importer teams oversee the conditions on the farms that supply them with crops to export, they can encourage suppliers to use the best methods. This leads to an increase in efficiency, such as land yields at a much higher ratio. Having an abundance of crops means that growers have more to sell and use, and suppliers have more products to offer for export.
This efficiency is what keeps costs lower for both the exporter of the crops and the private food label that uses the ingredients. It is this kind of long-term view of establishing independent growers with the best farming methods that guarantees prices stay accessible for everyone.
Not many people realize the hard work that goes into the development of a best-selling private food label. When the manufacturer works with a dedicated team of growers, suppliers, and importers, though, they know that they have access to prime ingredients at affordable prices. In turn, they can pass these savings onto the consumer with the knowledge—and PR advantage— that the crops were obtained through fair trade means.
