Allergen swabbing as validation of cleaning or verification of cleanin

I work in a plant which produces an unlimited variety of seasoned product containing a wide variety and various combinations of allergens. It is impossible to dedicate machinery to specific allergens so we rely on our cleaning program heavily in controlling allergens between productions. We have undertaken allergen swabbing to assist in verifying that our allergen management policies are effective. My question is: Once we validate that our cleaning is effective (we have tested over every kind of seasoning containing allergens that we run) should we continue to swab over each and every production of allergen or is it enough to say that we have validated our program and continue to do so at defined increments of time?

Thanks!
Isabelle

Once you've validated that your cleaning and sanitation methods are effective in removal of allergens, it's up to you (at least in SQF) to write in your allergen policy the frequency of revalidation. It can be annual, semi-annual, etc. Keep in mind though that if you add an allergen, change the configuration of your production equipment, etc. you'll likely have to revalidate.

Dear Isabelle Campbell,

The purpose of the validation programme is to be able to justify the avoidance of repetitive swabbing details for routine production.

Based on this thread " http://www.ifsqn.com...dpost__p__52783 " the expense involved is a primary incentive for the avoidance also.

The frequency of re-validation may well depend on yr specific procedure.

Rgds / Charles.C