Posted 05 November 2009 - 04:55 AM
Understandably most (if not all) cartons containing incoming ingredients/raw materials are or may have been subject to some form of environmental impact along the supply route BUT these "impacts" may not be visible under normal visual inspection. Potential cross contamination risk becomes a concern. Does this mean that to prevent / eliminate / reduce such "potential risks", we should replace with own cartons. Does the level of impracticality (depending on the degree of microscopic inspection criteria) including the cost of replacing cartons justify such actions? I am likely to feel convinced that it is not possible (except for Freezer / Chiller) to keep the common dirt and dust completely out.
Hi Charles,
Glad to see your response.I agree with you that incoming cartons have been subjected to various environmental factors we are unaware of. I didn’t mean that we have to replace the incoming cartons with our own cartons, instead either de-boxing should be done at the receiving point or there should be a separate storage area for these. Moreover, these cartons should never be transported to high risk areas which may result in potential cross-contamination. The condition of few food samples (cartons) can be inspected at the receiving point to a certain extent to reduce the risks to a certain level, as you said it is not possible to keep all the dirt & dust out completely, but find ways to minimize.
Best regards,
J
Only the curious will learn and only the resolute overcome the obstacles to learning. The quest quotient has always excited me more than the intelligence quotient. Eugene S Wilson