Quality Control Principles and Processes

6. First in, First out FIFO

Food businesses must ensure that all food and ingredients received and stored is checked for best before and expiry dates. It is essential that food is not only handled and stored properly but also used before the expiry date. To ensure this food processors often use a storage practice called FIFO, which stands for First In, First Out.

This method includes:

• ensuring items that are received first (the oldest items) are used first

• moving items nearing their expiration date to the front of the shelves

• clearly labelling and dating containers if food items are not stored in their original packaging

• checking best before and expiry dates frequently

• discarding any food items that show signs of spoilage