At Foodaction, we have a wide range of advanced computer skills. In the past we have developed a few pieces of software, or added code to commonly used tools to enhance what those pieces of software can achieve.
I like to do labelling work as quickly, and precisely, as possible, and that almost always means that software can be helpful. There are a couple of commercially available tools on the market called Zubi and Zigloa. We work with Cathy McArdle, a labelling specialist from McFoodies, who is the brains behind these two products, and can’t say enough good things about her.
We’ve had a play with these and find that they are great for people who have a decent amount of knowledge of the food standards code, but don’t work with it everyday. If I worked for a big food corporate and did labelling work occasionally, I would likely use these.
To make things easier for myself however, I like to do labelling in a way that suits me. I am not a consultant who does nothing but labelling. Labelling more often than not forms a portion of a larger project for me. It integrates with risk assessment and food marketing services we also offer.
Our first tool is a Zoho Creator database. This plays a similar role to Zigloa and allows us to perform a wide range of checks on a label, or create a specification. This works well for us to perform checks against the FSANZ Food Standards code, and other relevant legislation such as the Weights and Measures Regulations 1999.
Our second tool is a very advanced Excel spreadsheet. This sheet uses macros, Power Query Editor and external workbook cross references to automatically create complex ingredient listings. These listings contain characterising ingredient calculations and compound ingredients. It can also manage allergens in ingredients, cross contact allergen risks in ingredients, and cross contact allergen risks in the factory. It’s quite a complicated spreadsheet to use and read, but that’s because labelling can be insanely complicated.
Lastly, we have a tool that can automatically detect allergens in a complex ingredient list and apply bolding to them. Most of the time its not needed, especially if the listing is simple. This is particularly useful if we are working on a batch of products. Labelling work takes a huge amount of focus and the most important part (the allergen management elements) come at the end when there is a risk of exhaustion. This tool makes life a little easier at the end through automating a task.
We have a few other templates that do various calculations, such as convert an American style panel into a FSANZ style. There are a few complications to this, and not just because they define carbohydrates differently to FSANZ and the Food Standards Code. Also, anything involving vitamins and minerals has to be customised to the application.
We are building our database system to be able to cope with international food labelling applications. This isn’t ready yet, but can quickly be customised when required.
If you need labelling work done on a food product, I strongly suggest that you don’t give it a go yourself. This is a point in a food business where you need help. Using a consultant such as ourselves or Cathy McArdle who utilises software like our own templates or the Zigloa / Zubi system will help to get the job done quickly and without error. If you have medium level skills but aren’t doing labelling all day long, then the Zigloa and Zubi systems are excellent systems to guide you through the process in a structured and efficient way.
