Dried Food Packaging - Getting FDA registered / approved

[keithm696]

One quick queston that I'm sure someone can help me with. We are considering a bid on a dried food packaging contract. I know we will have to be FDA registered prior to any production but can someone share their experiences with me that has done a start up of this sort? Al if this is an incorrect post area please feel free to move this. Thanks so much for the knowledge I've found on this forum.

[BradM]

Hello there, Keith!

Some questions for you. Are you already in the business and are you performing any FDA work? Do you have a QMS system in place?

Are you going to be doing the packaging and drying the food? What exactly are you going to be doing? For example, will you have to deal with packaging/package sterility issues, handling/storage/transport sterility issues, which particular production issues, etc. will you address? Have you ever done validation work?

I have personally not done a start up before, but these are some of the questions that came to mind.

[keithm696]

Hi Brad,
We are currently registered as a device manufacture because we build first aid kits for USDA. The product will come to us dried and ready to package so we will have to measure, weigh and secure the contents with the suppliers header card information. We are rolling out a new QMS 07/01/07 in draft form for comments and questions before it goes to final print. I'm sure things in there will be effected. We are a very small business and have not had to deal with direct food contact for packaging before and I was curious about others experiences in a start up. I have done validation and verfication work before duting filight test in the Air Force but things in the civilian sector are a bit different. This will also drive staffing concerns because of some additional requirements. Thanks again!
Keith