Ciencias

Winter 2008

INTRODUCTION
This guide is intended to help you develop your food processing business. Whether you’re new to the food industry and starting a new business, or are considering expanding your existing operation, you’ll find the tools you need here. The guide takes a look at some of the important areas that are specific to the food processing business. We’ve included guidelines forfood safety, quality assurance and government regulations, as well as general information about how to market and promote commercial-scale products. If you’re a new entrepreneur and you’ve never started and run your own business in Ontario, we highly recommend two other invaluable resources along with this guide: • Your Guide to Small Business: This six-part guide, from the Ontario Ministry ofSmall Business and Entrepreneurship, highlights what you need to know to begin a new business. It takes you through the process, covering everything from initial preparation to developing a business plan, financing your business, incorporating, assessing your progress and expanding your business. Your Guide to Small Business is available free online athttp://www.sbe.gov.on.ca/ontcan/sbe/en/st_yrguide_en.jsp, or you can download it as a PDF file. The Canada-Ontario Business Service Centre website, www.cbsc.org/ontario. This website, jointly managed by Industry Canada and the Ministry of Government Services, contains a wealth of information for anyone starting a business. Here you’ll find guidance on getting started, financing, research, marketing, taxation, management and planning, hiringemployees and much more. An on-line small-business workshop takes you step by step through a program that will help you develop your business idea, start a new venture or improve an existing business.

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Throughout this guide you’ll also find many other valuable contacts and resources, including on-line links, that will help you through some of the hurdles of starting and expanding your foodprocessing business.

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – Business Development Branch

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CONTENTS
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. 2 1. Doing Your Research ………………………………………………………….. 6 • Researching the Industry…………………………………………………… 7 2. Your Responsibilities and Obligations……………………………………...… 10 • Liability and Insurance……………………………………………………… 11 • General Obligations andResponsibilities…………………………………… 12 • Regulatory Responsibilities and Obligations………………………………… 15 • Federal Statutes and Regulations…………………………………………… 18 • Provincial Statutes and Regulations………………………………………… 20 • Municipal Regulations……………………………………………………… 24 • U.S. Regulations……………………………………………………………. 24 3. Developing and Manufacturing Your Product…………………………..…… 26 • Choosing a ManufacturingStrategy………………………………………… 27 • Setting Up Your Own Manufacturing Facility……………………………… 27 • Using a Product Development Facility……………………………………… 29 • Co-Packing Your Product…………………..……………………………… 30 • Product Development……………………………………………………… 33 • Inventory…………………………………………………………………… 35

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – Business Development Branch

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4. FoodIngredients…………………………………………………………..…… 37 • Sweeteners………………………………………………………………….. 38 • Fats and Oils……………………………………………………………..… 43 • Food Starches…………………………………………………………….… 48 • Flavours……………………………………………………………..……… 50 • Herbs, Spices and Seasonings……………………………………….……… 53 • Food Additives………………………………………………………...…… 57 5. Food Processing and Preservation……………………………………………. 61 • Processing Methods………………………………………………………… 62 6. Quality Assurance……………………………………………………………… 69 • CreatingQuality…………………………………………………………..… 69 • Quality Programs…………………………………………………………… 72 • Product Certifications…………………………………………………….… 73 • Product Specifications………………………………………………….…… 74 • Sanitation in Food Processing…………………………….………………… 75 • Developing a Sanitation Program…………………………………………… 77 7. Packaging and Labelling……………………………………………….……… 79 • The Ideal...