The scanner was switched off for two days…
- Diana Lupu | EDL Food Compliance Solutions
- 3 days ago
- 1 min read
A packaging control was in place. The problem? Someone had decided not to use it.
What happened
During production, a packaging scanner had been bypassed for two days to keep the line running. Without the scanner control, incorrect packaging was able to pass through the process.
Why it matters
A packaging error isn't always just a quality issue. Where allergen information is involved, the wrong packaging can mean an undeclared allergen, a recall and potentially serious consumer harm.
What good looks like
Teams need to understand why critical controls are there, what risk they are controlling and when production must stop. If a control cannot be used as intended, the answer should be escalation — not bypassing it.
Key lesson: A control only works when people understand why it matters.
What would you do?
If a packaging scanner failed during production, what controls would you expect to see before allowing the line to continue?
This educational scenario is inspired by real-world food manufacturing experience. Products, people, locations and circumstances may be adapted or combined to protect confidentiality.
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