Product Hygiene - Defeathered poultry on the floor
I was in a Poultry abattior and packhouse early this week. I was told that if a chicken (after being defeathered etc) was on the floor for less than 10 mins then it got washed then packed. i said i strongley disagree with this but he said that the MHS vet said this would be suitable and accepted this safe for human consumption. I know this is not hazourdous to consumer health and maybe i have to high standards but i personally would not be happy about this.
Lucky enough this was not a supplier.
Please tll me your comments
thanks
I've had other people quote this at me when I've been saying "we shouldn't be allowed to pick food up off the floor."
It's difficult to try and persuade people it's the right thing to do apart from what you've already said. I suppose the only other route I would try is suggest changing the system to make it harder for the chicken to fall on the floor in the first place because it's inefficient to have to pick it up, wash it and put it back on the line.
If you're the auditor in this situation, I'd demand they change it or prove it's safe. If you're a TM or QAM, I'd fight it as hard as I could but then probably resign myself to it being another part of the food industry which makes me cry a little into my pillow...
I don't agree with this but i would like to hear your comments and reasons........
I was in a Poultry abattior and packhouse early this week. I was told that if a chicken (after being defeathered etc) was on the floor for less than 10 mins then it got washed then packed. i said i strongley disagree with this but he said that the MHS vet said this would be suitable and accepted this safe for human consumption. I know this is not hazourdous to consumer health and maybe i have to high standards but i personally would not be happy about this.
Lucky enough this was not a supplier.
Please tll me your comments
thanks
This does sound gross, but I think most of us would frankly be shocked if we saw the processes some of our foods go through from "farm to fork." Much worse than this from what I understand.
We really have to take a risk-based approach, I think. As GMO noted, prove it's safe. Validate your processes. What is the risk in doing this? It's certainly not compliant with most commonly-accepted GMP-type programs.
I agree that you have to prove that there´s no contamination if it´s there less than 10 minutes (as if microorganisms were that slow to reproduce) and that it makes good common sense to keep things from falling because that means more work.
And where did this chicken fall? What if it was where the defeathering took place? YIKES!
Even if it fell in a "clean" area, not only would you have to wash the chicken, but you´d also have to clean the spot where it fell. Wouldn´t want any chicken juice on the floor making people slip and fall, not to mention being the perfect breeding ground for all kinds of bacteria, and have another chicken fall on top of that!
Why does this sound a little like the "Do you pick your food up from the floor and then eat it?" forum?
Lol! I agree. I have always taken a hard line on this but been overrulled on packaged product by the most senior people in my company. Drives me doolally.
I can definitely see your point, because you usually open a package and touch the food inside, assuming that the outside of the package is clean. I´ve never heard of anyone washing a package!
GMO: I can just imagine what went through your mind when you read about chicken on the floor, when you´re trying to fight PACKAGED food on the floor.
I can definitely see your point, because you usually open a package and touch the food inside, assuming that the outside of the package is clean. I´ve never heard of anyone washing a package!
Exactly my point! The products I work on now though are ready to eat which is probably where the chicken situation differs.