Food & Beverage
Trusted Support for the Entire Food & Beverage Lifecycle
The Food & Beverage (F&B) industry is undergoing rapid transformation, shaped by evolving consumer preferences, advances in technology, and increasing regulatory complexity. Companies are adapting to the heightened demand for healthier, more sustainable products, driven by growing interest in plant-based options, functional foods, and craft beverages. Transparency in labeling and clean, recognizable ingredients are now baseline expectations for many consumers.
Sustainability plays a pivotal role in business decisions, influencing sourcing practices, packaging design, and end-to-end logistics. At the same time, automation, artificial intelligence, and digital tools are driving efficiencies in production and enabling greater flexibility and personalization across the supply chain. Shifts in consumer behavior—particularly the demand for convenience, premium ready-to-eat products, and direct-to-consumer access—are redefining how food is created, marketed, and delivered.
Yet alongside these opportunities are significant challenges: navigating complex and frequently changing regulations; managing perishable inventories; controlling costs amid inflation and labor shortages; and ensuring food safety at every stage. These pressures underscore the need for comprehensive compliance strategies and trusted guidance.
J. J. Keller brings extensive expertise to support the entire F&B supply chain—from farm-level sourcing and processing to cold storage, transportation, and retail. Our industry-specific compliance solutions enable companies to maintain compliance, protect their employees, and uphold product integrity in a competitive and highly regulated environment.
Compliance Topics
Make sure you have the resources you need to comply with food and beverage regulations. See below for information and solutions on key safety and compliance topics.
Food & Beverage Services
In today’s fast-changing food & beverage industry, staying compliant and competitive is more important than ever. J. J. Keller offers tailored compliance solutions that help businesses manage regulatory complexity, ensure food safety, and protect employees across the entire supply chain. Our services support operational efficiency and product integrity—no matter your size or focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Compliance
The F&B industry must comply with regulations from multiple agencies, including OSHA (safety), DOT (transportation), FDA/USDA (food safety), EPA (environmental), and state/local agencies. Key areas include worker protection, food handling, labeling, transportation, and environmental waste management.
Absolutely. OSHA requires written programs for various topics, including hazard communication, emergency action, lockout/tagout, and others. We can help you develop, review, and implement these plans.
You should retain documentation related to training records, cleaning logs, maintenance records, supplier verification, and corrective actions. Digital compliance tools can help centralize and manage records for easier inspections and audits.
Absolutely. We offer Spanish-language training materials and courses, and our consulting team can support multilingual workforces to ensure OSHA, DOT, and food safety training is understood and followed by all employees.
Food Safety & FSMA
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is a sweeping reform of food safety laws that focuses on preventing contamination rather than responding to it. It affects facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption.
Yes, under the FSMA’s Intentional Adulteration Rule, certain facilities are required to develop and implement a written Food Defense Plan to mitigate the risk of intentional contamination. J. J. Keller can assist with plan creation, vulnerability assessments, and employee training.
Consistent training is key. We offer customizable Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) training programs and signage to reinforce hygiene, handwashing, PPE use, and contamination prevention procedures.
J. J. Keller provides tools, training, and consulting to help you maintain compliance with food safety regulations, manage documentation, and train employees to be inspection-ready.
Workplace Safety
Top citations typically include machine guarding, hazard communication, lockout/tagout, and powered industrial trucks (PITs). J. J. Keller can help you identify hazards and implement corrective actions to prevent violations.
Spaces such as mixing tanks, fermenters, storage silos, or underground vaults may qualify as confined spaces. If they meet OSHA’s definition and pose atmospheric or engulfment hazards, your team must follow strict entry procedures and training.
We provide regulatory guidance, training programs, audit support, written plan development, safety data sheet (SDS) management, and safety consulting tailored to the food production environment.
Transportation & Sanitary Transport
Yes. Carriers transporting food must comply with the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food Rule under the FDA's FSMA, in addition to standard DOT regulations. J. J. Keller offers training and documentation tools to help ensure compliance.
Yes, if your vehicles are commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) as defined by the FMCSA, even short-distance food transportation may require compliance with driver qualification, HOS, vehicle maintenance, and potentially FSMA’s Sanitary Transportation Rule.