Smooth solutions to risk management

Mention the word lubricant in whatever context and you will most likely be greeted by a raised eyebrow or giggle. Food-grade lubricants may not be sexy, but they are a vital part of a food manufacturer’s food safety and risk management armoury. Product recall is a nightmare scenario that manufacturers go to great lengths to avoid through risk evaluation and implementation of strict hygiene measures — and yet they can often overlook the need to use the right food-grade lubricants in their equipment. Accidental contamination of food by the wrong lubricant may not always involve a full product recall but might well lead to costly product disposal and/or destruction of the batch involved.