Since the adoption of FSMA – the Food Safety Modernization Act, in the United States, it is now the law of the land that every CPG (Consumer Product Goods) manufacturing business maintain detailed documentation. This documentation includes a HACCP Plan, Lot Coding, Recall Procedures and more.
Additionally, documentation is the backbone of certifications. Not only do we need to document our processes in order to be in compliance with local and federal government regulations, we also need them to validate that our products meet the standards set forth by the certifying bodies.
While many of us are attracted to Kombucha as an “artist”, there is a need to train oneself to take good notes not just for internal recipe and process development, and to satisfy inspectors who are not trained in Kombucha specifically.
Regulators use documents as a way to check the boxes on their list that confirms your business is not going to cause harm to the public at large.
Clear documents are incredibly valuable and also become your Kombucha Grimoire or your “business bible” if you will. Plus they are a record of your journey of growth and development as an entrepreneur and craft brewer.
