Safeguarding the Supply Chain in the Food and Drink Industry

The Importance of the Food and Drink Industry

The UK’s food and drink sector is the nation's largest manufacturing industry by turnover, valued at £104.4 billion. It surpasses the automotive and aerospace industries combined. A recent study highlights that growth in this sector is crucial in mitigating the economic effects of Brexit. The UK’s takeaway and fast food market was valued at over £20 billion in 2023 and has experienced significant expansion in recent years. The rapid rise of business-to-consumer food delivery services is also a notable factor.

Security Seals: A Deterrent Against Tampering

Security seals play an essential role in the food and beverage industry, safeguarding food products during transportation. Whether being moved between facilities or to customers, it is vital to protect food items from tampering, theft, and contamination. Plastic security seals are particularly suited for this purpose, as they are both tamper-evident and tamper-resistant, allowing any interference with food products to be easily detected.

Our range of food-contact safe plastic seals can be used on vehicles, sacks, or any container with an aperture. For instance, our security labels and tapes can seal smaller cardboard cartons; our StrapWrap pallet security tape and StrapSecure seals can secure shrink-wrapped pallets; and our freight and transport seals can safeguard the access doors of entire trailers or containers carrying food cargo.

Security Seals: Reducing Theft in the Supply Chain

Theft is a major threat to the global food supply chain, with food and beverage thefts rising sharply between 2021 and 2022. In fact, nearly one in five (18%) of all global cargo thefts involved food items. This increase is likely driven by extreme weather conditions and rising energy costs, leading to global shortages and price hikes for certain products.

If theft is a concern, our high-security cable seals and container bolt seals offer robust protection. Our container bolt seals are C-TPAT-compliant and ISO17712:2013 certified as 'H' High-Security Seals. When bolt seals cannot be used (for instance, where goods are not being shipped in containers or box trailers), we provide a full range of cable seals suitable for ISO17712 High-Security / CTPAT movements, with various cable lengths and diameters available. High-security barrier seals like our bolt and cable seals are ideal for securing high-value goods such as whisky and other branded alcoholic beverages.

Metal Detectable Security Seals for Production Lines

In cases where security seals are needed to protect internal processes during food production, our Metal Detectable Tracewaste Seals provide a reliable, detectable solution. These seals contain a specialised additive, making them metal and x-ray detectable. This ensures the integrity of your tamper-evident security measures while being fully food-contact safe and meeting the requirements of Hazard and Critical Control Point (HACCP) analysis in the food, drink, and pharmaceutical industries.

Small metal-detectable particles are evenly distributed throughout the seal, allowing detection systems to identify even minor plastic contamination, which aids in batch recall and investigation as part of your HACCP procedures. Available in up to eight colours, the Tracewaste seal is ideal for securing roll cages, sacks, drums, and containers within food production environments.

Food Delivery Seals

Security seals also play a crucial role in protecting food storage containers and packaging. To ensure food products remain safe and fresh, these containers must be safeguarded against tampering and contamination. Security seals secure containers, packaging, and storage units, ensuring the integrity of food and beverage products during transportation.

Our DeliverSafe food delivery security labels provide a simple yet effective solution, ensuring that food deliveries arrive in pristine, unopened condition. Unlike ordinary adhesive labels, DeliverSafe stickers void upon opening, leaving a "void" message on the delivery carton, box, or bag. These security labels act as a deterrent against tampering or unauthorised access before the package reaches the recipient, giving customers confidence in your commitment to hygiene and safety.

Our security labels are fully customisable, allowing you to include branding and a bespoke message in the sub-surface marking, reinforcing your brand and commitment to quality.

Contact Us for Advice

For guidance on selecting the most appropriate seals for your food and drink business, please contact us. We are happy to help you find the best solution for your specific needs.

For more information on Safeguarding the Supply Chain in the Food and Drink Industry talk to Universeal (UK) Ltd