In order to maximize profitability while complying with government regulations regarding net package contents, food manufacturers and packagers must achieve an optimal balance. Consistent overfilling to minimize risk is inefficient and sacrifices profitability, while aggressive filling practices result in significant risks of noncompliance with net contents regulations, in turn leading to potential penalties, loss of reputation, and impaired customer relations. Statistical process control (SPC) and process capability methods may be utilized to determine optimal targets for product fill weights or volumes for a given process. Subsequent focused efforts to minimize variation will allow the target to be further optimized, resulting in less waste without compromising risk.

U.S. regulatory requirements

The specific regulatory requirements for net contents of foods vary by country. This article will address the basic U.S. regulations, although the methods are easily applied to variations of these regulations.

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