How AuditComply Helps Tackle the Challenges of Food Packaging and Labelling

In today’s food industry, FSQA teams know that packaging isn’t just about shelf appeal, it’s your first line of defense in protecting consumer health and safeguarding brand reputation. Teams are under increasing pressure to stay ahead of shifting regulatory landscapes, manage operational costs, and deliver sustainable yet compliant packaging, all without compromising consumer trust.

Any misstep in the packaging or labelling process can lead to serious consequences, from costly recalls to lasting brand damage. Take Kellogg’s 2004 cereal recall, for example. Mislabelled allergens triggered significant product recalls across the US and Europe. And regulators are acting with urgency, following the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, the teenager who suffered an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette, the UK government introduced Natasha’s Law to strengthen allergen labelling requirements across the industry.

These incidents reinforce a critical point: accuracy and clarity in packaging and labelling are essential, not optional.

So how do you, as an FSQA leader, maintain regulatory compliance, cost control, and sustainability, while protecting your consumers and your brand?

1. Standardized Assessments

AuditComply enables FSQA teams to deploy standardized packaging and labelling inspection templates across all their locations and production lines. Whether it’s allergen declarations, expiry date accuracy, barcode readability, or tamper-evident seals, digital assessments guide frontline staff through every detail, ensuring alignment with FDA, BRCGS, SQF and other global requirements.

2. Real-Time Issue Reporting

Speed matters when something goes wrong. AuditComply’s mobile-first platform lets operators instantly report labelling errors, damaged packaging, or missing information. Staff can upload photos, add comments, and trigger corrective actions directly from the production floor, turning a reactive process into a proactive safeguard.

3. Automated Workflows

When a label fails inspection or packaging is flagged as non-compliant, AuditComply automatically triggers alerts and escalates to the right team, QA leads, packaging managers, or production supervisors. This ensures no issue is buried or delayed, reducing risk and improving accountability.

4. Barcode-Driven Traceability

AuditComply supports end-to-end barcode scanning across your operations. Each label contains critical data – item name, location, serial number. Capture this data and ensure your team can track movement, verify product integrity, and confirm label accuracy against records.

5. Audit Trails & Compliance Records

Every check is timestamped and stored in a secure audit trail, ready for internal audits or third-party inspections. Whether you’re aiming for BRCGS, ISO 22000, or HACCP compliance, you’ll have full traceability and defensible quality records at your fingertips.

6. Training & Accountability

Ensure the right people have the right knowledge. Assign packaging and labelling SOPs as training modules, track completion, and verify understanding. FSQA managers gain visibility into frontline readiness, closing the gap between policy and practice.

7. Data & Analytics for Continuous Improvement

Recurring labelling errors? Packaging failures from the same supplier? AuditComply’s analytics dashboards help FSQA teams identify trends, monitor resolution times, and spot location-specific risks. With the right insights, you don’t just fix problems, you prevent them.

Meeting Modern Packaging & Labelling Challenges  

Today’s packaging demands are more complex than ever. From retailer-specific requirements to multilingual labels and environmental regulations, FSQA leaders must remain agile, informed, and in control.

With AuditComply:

• You standardize inspections across sites with smart digital checklists.
  
• You respond instantly to issues with mobile-first reporting.
  
• You automate manual workflows for faster resolution.
  
• You maintain audit trails and training records.
  
• You enhance traceability through barcode integration.
  
• You use data to continuously improve and stay ahead of risks.
  

Future-Proof Your FSQA Function

AuditComply turns packaging and labelling from a potential vulnerability into a competitive advantage. By combining assessment tools, intelligent workflows, barcode traceability, and real-time analytics, your FSQA team gains the visibility, control, and confidence needed to lead from the front.

Ready to bring intelligence, automation, and accountability to your packaging and labelling programs?

Contact us today for a tailored demo and see how AuditComply helps you drive compliance, quality, and consumer trust from the ground up.