Chemical Traceability?

Hey Everyone,

Im in the process of going over our traceability program and i am trying to figure out all that i need to be able to trace. What i know is ingredients and primary packaging, but what about cleaning chemicals( cleaners, sanitizers) and water softner salts? Would i also need to trace liquid homogenizer oil, or what about non food contact chemicals? Thanks for any help

Hi Pandy,

I am required for our current quality standard to record our batch code numbers of cleaning chemicals used in the factory, every time a container is removed from storage it is documented on a list, the same has been applied to our pest control provider who uses a list of his batch numbers in his reports to me.
I'm not sure of your process but for the rest you have asked about, personally yes I would record batch numbers for them, you say non food contact does this include all product contact surfaces?

Thanks for the response Terrabell,

As for non food contact it would basically be bleach and that is used on the ground. Then as far as food contact chemicals( for production tanks and equipment inside and out) it would be two cleaners that must be rinsed after use, and one no rinse sanitizer. How would water softner salt work because it is basically added when its low (not out) so its not really a changeover from one lot to another rather an addition.

Hi Pandy,

For the bleach, I would still record the batch numbers, it's not food contact but it is still used in your processing environment (better safe than sorry!).
Chemical cleaners - I would record the batch numbers as this is used on processing equipment.
Water softner salt - do you purchase this in bulk? e.g. by the pallet load and does each delivery come with an allocated batch number? Could you record the batch number, date and time of addition?

In my mind what it comes down to is:
- if you are notified by a supplier of one of the above that there is an issue with their product
- if there is an issue in your process with the usage of the above

Are you able to determine how much of your process/product was affected?

I would simply go with a plan that if it is part of the process or may come in contact with the process we should be able to track usage and batches. Be it ingredients, packaging, cleaning chemicals or process additives. You just never know what may cause a recall with your product. We complete a mock recall every month and vary the issue to insure that we can complete a proper trace.

Yea, thats what i was thinking. Everything that is food contact, now i just have to figure out the easiest way to trace the chemicals. Thanks for the help!

Yea, thats what i was thinking. Everything that is food contact, now i just have to figure out the easiest way to trace the chemicals. Thanks for the help!

To accomplish this, I forced the supplier to assign a batch number to each container of food-contact surface cleaners we use (three per month, so not a burden on the supplier). Whether they can trace this or not, I'll find out later next month. ;-)

Yes we have to record every chemical to reduce the assumptions in case of any problem.