Food safety and sanitation practices are bedrock principles of the food and beverage manufacturing industries, shaping everything from manufacturing processes to machine design.
These practices also serve as vital strategies for protecting customers from allergens and foodborne illnesses and guarding brands against costly and reputation-damaging recalls, according to “Food Safety and Sanitation Trends: End User, OEM, and Supplier Perspectives,” a new report from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
When researchers for the study asked food and beverage manufacturers about the challenges they face in meeting regulatory requirements, more than half indicated training employees as a top challenge. They also noted hurdles in getting all organizational stakeholders on the same page, as well as keeping track of new or changing regulations.
Digital integration is becoming an essential tool in the food and beverage industries. Still, not all operations have achieved the levels necessary to leverage the full benefits of a highly networked facility, especially in terms of food safety and sanitation procedures.
End users currently prioritize core sanitation fundamentals — such as material choice, design, and cleaning non-porous surfaces — over advanced technologies. Additional considerations, such as corrosion resistance and sealed components, reflect expectations around equipment durability and cleaning efficiency. While technology-centric features, like automated cleaning and digital integration, are currently lower priorities, they may serve as future differentiators rather than immediate decision drivers.
For example, only a handful of surveyed end users (16%) are using an enterprise resource planning system in their sanitation processes. “OEMs and suppliers may need to help end users achieve greater levels of digital integration — like connecting sanitation processes to operation-wide software management systems — to unlock the additional benefits of connected operations,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI.
OEMs that align with top-to-mid-level priorities today, while innovating for tomorrow, will be best positioned to meet shifting food safety and sanitation needs.
With most end users linking both sanitation processes and chemical use to machine wear, OEMs and suppliers may need to explore new strategies to increase the durability of their machines. While 81% of OEMs report incorporating corrosion-resistance properties on their equipment, end users continue to experience wear, suggesting that current measures may not fully address the realities of increasingly aggressive sanitation protocols.
From incorporating food safety- and sanitation-compliant design features into their machinery to offering consulting services, OEMs and suppliers play an essential role in helping end users maintain safe and compliant operations.
“It is important for OEMs and suppliers to work closely with their customers to stay informed about applicable regulations and standards, and adjust machinery and services accordingly,” says Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI.
Packaging and processing professionals can fast-track decisions and maximize ROI for their food safety and sanitation operations at PACK EXPO East, taking place from February 17 to 19, 2026, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in the heart of Philadelphia. In just a few days at the show, attendees will see solutions in action, talk directly with experts, and accomplish what would usually take weeks of research.
Combining scale and accessibility, the show delivers world-class packaging and processing innovation without cross-country travel. Conveniently located for much of the East Coast, PACK EXPO East 2026 covers 40+ verticals and presents the perfect opportunity for teams to explore hundreds of solutions together, align on strategy, spark ideas, and build the connections that drive business forward, all while saving time and money.
Innovation is closer than you think at PACK EXPO East 2026 with 8,000 attendees, 500 exhibitors, 125,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, free educational sessions, and many networking opportunities.
Discover cutting-edge solutions, explore the latest technologies, learn from industry experts, and make valuable connections in a convenient location perfect for East Coast manufacturing teams. Learn more and register at packexpoeast.com. The early registration rate is $30; after January 23, 2026, the price increases to $130.
