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Good Foods Manages Production Fluctuations during COVID-19 Pandemic

As a result of COVID-19, Good Foods has added face shields and masks, reconstructed traffic patterns to limit exposure, added an hour between shifts, and placed floor markings to further adhere to social distancing.

Good Foods

Backed by more than three decades of experience in the food industry, Malin Benicek, vice president of technical services at Good Foods, tells ProFood World how the company is managing production during COVID-19 and explains why the use of high pressure processing (HPP) equipment is a strong selling tool for its business.

Q. How has COVID-19 impacted Good Foods?

A. Like everyone else, we have been impacted, but we’ve been very fortunate. We implemented our continuity of operations plan (COOP) back in February and put it into place by March 6, restricting travel and visitors, enacting social distancing protocols, and allowing only essential employees on site. Certainly, it’s been a major change. We review the situation daily. Though we are running a business, we see our work as an obligation to provide nutritious and delicious foods to consumers.

Q. What have you done to ensure the safety of workers and food production?

A. We run a good manufacturing practices (GMP) facility, and we must adhere to strict sanitation and food safety guidelines, promulgated by FDA, that include having employees wear gloves, gowns, protective eyewear, hairnets, and foot coverings. As a result of COVID-19, we have added face shields and masks, and have reconstructed traffic patterns to limit exposure. For instance, we added an hour between shifts and have markings on the floor to designate foot patterns to further adhere to social distancing.  

Q. Have you implemented hazard pay for employees who must work in production?

A. We have a compensation program for all employees.

Q. Do you think these extra measures will remain after COVID-19?

A. Good Foods is not planning to add our pandemic best practices into standard operating procedures. We are a food manufacturing facility with rigorous sanitary measures taken on a daily basis. The primary functions of face shields and masks are to discourage people from touching their faces and reduce the risk of infection. Through COOP team review, we may choose to stock such devices on hand in the future, as a preparatory measure for future outbreaks.

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