Food Safety at Every Stage
Why Packaging Matters as Much as Production
Food safety is a fundamental responsibility for every bakery. From sourcing ingredients through mixing, baking, cooling, and packing, strict controls are applied to protect consumers and ensure consistent product quality.
Many bakeries work hard to achieve and maintain high food safety standards, often demonstrated through recognised certifications such as BRCGS Global Standard Packaging Materials. While significant attention is paid to ingredients, processes, and equipment, one important area can sometimes receive less focus: packaging.
If a bakery is held to the highest food safety standards, it follows that its packaging (including bread bag closures) should meet those same expectations.
Food Safety Is a Continuous Chain
Food safety does not end when a loaf leaves the oven. Every stage of production plays a role in protecting the final product, from preventing contamination and maintaining freshness to supporting traceability and meeting regulatory requirements.
Packaging forms the final barrier between the product and the outside environment. A poorly designed or inconsistent closure can compromise freshness, create risks on the production line, or cause issues later in distribution and retail.
When high standards are applied throughout production but not consistently across packaging components, a potential weak point is introduced into an otherwise well-controlled process.
What Is BRCGS — and Why Does It Matter?
BRCGS (Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standards) is one of the most widely recognised food safety and quality certification schemes globally. It sets rigorous requirements across areas including product safety, hygiene controls, risk assessment, supplier approval, traceability, and audit discipline.
Achieving a high BRCGS grade is not a one-time exercise. It requires ongoing commitment, detailed documentation, regular audits, and a culture of continuous improvement. For bakeries, BRCGS certification provides confidence to retailers and consumers that food safety is embedded at every level of the operation.
Why Packaging Standards Should Match Production Standards
Many bakeries operate at BRCGS Grade A or AA, reflecting exceptional control across their facilities. However, packaging components such as bread bag closures are sometimes sourced without the same level of scrutiny.
Bread bag closures are in direct contact with primary packaging and are often applied at high speed on automated lines. They must be safe, consistent, traceable, and compatible with food safety systems such as metal detection.
Working with packaging partners that operate to equivalent standards helps ensure the entire process – from raw ingredients to finished, sealed product – is aligned to the same high expectations.
Don’t Overlook the Smallest Components
Bread bag closures may be small, but their impact on food safety, product quality, and consumer confidence is significant.
As the final touchpoint before a product leaves the production line, the closure helps protect the loaf, preserve freshness, and maintain pack integrity throughout the supply chain. Any weakness at this stage can undermine the controls applied earlier in production.
For bakeries operating to high food safety standards, consistency across every element of the process is essential – including packaging components that come into direct contact with primary packaging.
One example within this space is We Seal, a manufacturer of resealable tape bag closures and sealing machines. The company holds the highest BRCGS rating (AA), reflecting a strong focus on food safety, quality management, and continuous improvement across its manufacturing operations.
Maintaining this level of certification requires rigorous systems, regular auditing, and sustained investment – demonstrating how even small packaging components are increasingly held to the same standards as the products they help protect.
By designing and manufacturing both closures and sealing machines, We Seal is able to control compatibility, performance, and safety across the entire sealing process, supporting consistent and compliant bakery operations.
We Seal resealable tape closures, manufactured to the highest BRCGS standard (AA rating).
From Start to Finish: Confidence for You and Your Customers
Food safety is only as strong as its weakest link. When every stage of production operates to the same high standard, bakeries can be confident their products reach consumers fresh, safe, and protected.
For bakeries proud of their food safety credentials, expecting the same commitment from packaging suppliers is not just reasonable — it’s essential.
