Use of Ceramics as Food Packaging

Hello,

I'm hoping someone out there can help!
I work for a frozen food manufacturer and one of our customers has recently asked us to manufacture a product in a terracotta bowl.

Having no experience of using either glass or ceramics in a production environment, I am unsure how to approach this with regard to HACCP and foreign body control. How does this work with the standard glass / brittle materials controls we already have in place?
And does anyone know of any problems with freezing product in terracotta / ceramic containers?

Many thanks in advance,
Emma

Hi Emma,

Welcome to the forums.

I dredged this old discussion up.

Terracotta food packaging, How do you ensure that Terracotta is suitable?

Hopefully members will be able to provide you with some contemporary views.

Regards,
Simon

Dear Emma,

I think I would avoid the use of tarmac coating as mentioned in old link.

Didn't see any full-scale processes using terracotta discussed on IT however these semi-anecdotal extracts may be of some initial help -

Are terra cotta flower pots safe to cook or serve food?
Not recommended. Flower pots may contain lead. They are not made from a food safe material. To serve food, the pot can be lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

http://www.rrc.ksu.e...t.aspx?tabid=42

I'm not sure about the tesco one in particular but I have used terracotta dishes in the freezer before with no problems. I had a quick look on google and it seems that many terracotta dishes are freezer safe

.

http://forums.moneys...html?p=14639933

If you plan on keeping the container outside during the winter, buy concrete or tough plastic instead of terra-cotta. Terra-cotta will crumble with alternate freezing and thawing.

http://www.lowes.com...s/rightNavHowTo

crock-pots and terra cotta - Considered safe for cooking. However, lead has been used in some glazes for slow-cooking pots (crock-pots). But, in tests done in 1987, FDA found that the amount of lead that leached into food from these pots did not exceed FDA standards. As a general rule, terra cotta cookware without lead glaze is the best choice.
To ensure safety in using pottery dishes or cookware, ensure that there is a label that reads, “Safe for food use.” It is also best to avoid using pottery items such as pitchers or mugs from Mexico or Latin America due to the potential high levels of lead.

http://www.eartheasy...hy_cookware.htm

Roast chicken and guinea fowl in terracotta

http://uktv.co.uk/fo...cipe/aid/569936

The one line summary seems to be - OK for food and freezing but depends on the specific product.

There are some threads on glass bottling here somewhere also.

Looks like an interesting audit on the way.

Rgds / Charles.C

Hello,

I'm hoping someone out there can help!
I work for a frozen food manufacturer and one of our customers has recently asked us to manufacture a product in a terracotta bowl.

Having no experience of using either glass or ceramics in a production environment, I am unsure how to approach this with regard to HACCP and foreign body control. How does this work with the standard glass / brittle materials controls we already have in place?
And does anyone know of any problems with freezing product in terracotta / ceramic containers?

Many thanks in advance,
Emma

Hi Emma


i have a (old) HACCP plan for glass bottling is that can be of any help?
It talks about inex scanners and the such though. but i'd be happy to share

caz x

that would be great, thanks caz