7 replies to this topic

[ol_ok]

Hi All

 

I have been asked by a customer to provide an Allergen Improvement Plan.  We are a BRC Grade A site so all the necessary allergen controls, risk assessments etc. are in place.  I feel that the various elements of an allergen improvement plan are probably in place based on the only information I have found to date: http://sqt.ie/wordpress/?p=2467 but if anyone can enlighten me further I'd be grateful.....going round in circles trying to start this but I feel I might be overthinking it!

 

Many thanks in advance,

 

Olivia

[Charles.C]

Hi All

 

I have been asked by a customer to provide an Allergen Improvement Plan.  We are a BRC Grade A site so all the necessary allergen controls, risk assessments etc. are in place.  I feel that the various elements of an allergen improvement plan are probably in place based on the only information I have found to date: http://sqt.ie/wordpress/?p=2467 but if anyone can enlighten me further I'd be grateful.....going round in circles trying to start this but I feel I might be overthinking it!

 

Many thanks in advance,

 

Olivia

 

Dear Olivia,

 

Welcome to the forum !

 

May I ask if there was a specific reason(s) why yr customer asked for an Improvement Plan ?

 

(it sounds like a made-up [Irish] terminology )

 

Rgds / Charles.C

[ol_ok]

Hi Charles

 

I'd like to know that too!  There was a question on their allergen questionnaire relating to the plan and "measures in place to improve the current risk" to which I responded that we did not have one (having already given then our policy, work instructions, blood etc.) but they have insisted!  We handle 4 allergens on site and have no plans to reduce this number.  As I mentioned, we already have our control measures in place, risk assessments done etc. etc. so I really don't know how to approach improving the current risk! 

 

And they are not an Irish company so don't blame the Paddys for making stuff up

Thanks!

O.

[Charles.C]

Hi Charles

 

I'd like to know that too!  There was a question on their allergen questionnaire relating to the plan and "measures in place to improve the current risk" to which I responded that we did not have one (having already given then our policy, work instructions, blood etc.) but they have insisted!  We handle 4 allergens on site and have no plans to reduce this number.  As I mentioned, we already have our control measures in place, risk assessments done etc. etc. so I really don't know how to approach improving the current risk! 

 

And they are not an Irish company so don't blame the Paddys for making stuff up

Thanks!

O.

 

Dear Olivia,

 

Tricky. We occasionally get  similar queries here about official audits where a nonconformance is given due to a vague “lack” with no specified standard’s paragraph in the report or other details. Amazing but true.

 

I can only think that one or more of yr answers to a specific question is simply not matchable with their (unknown) checklist evaluation so a box cannot be ticked. For example, due to either  phraseology or content. Or Blood type ?

 

I deduce that you are convinced the discrepancy is due to yr answer to their “Plan” question. Sure ??

 

If so, it sounds almost like their approval system cannot cope with a simple negative response like you mention or a cross-reference reply. After all,  everybody must exhibit a philosophy of some “continuous improvement”. The classic initial reply is usually of the form  “We are continuously striving blahblahblah superlatives” followed by  some  (knowing-in-advance) mostly (but not quite all) doable Performance Objectives. I realize you have presumably done this for BRC already. Maybe the Questionnaire is judged by a Robot like in the GPA examinations.

 

I’m just speculating unfortunately. You may get more responses here if you can post the, believed, suspect paragraph question / answer so other people may hv their memories triggered over similar events. Otherwise the answers here may resemble an intoxicated coconut shy.

 

Rgds / Charles.C

 

PS - I noticed the linked 10-point plan has no mention of further improvements. Maybe in the Training Course .

[ol_ok]

And the 10-point plan headings seem to have come directly from Allsafe "Managing Food Allergens"!

 

I am going to summarise what we do under the 10 headings, send it off & await the response.  Makey-uppy request = makey-uppy plan

[cazyncymru]

And the 10-point plan headings seem to have come directly from Allsafe "Managing Food Allergens"!

 

I am going to summarise what we do under the 10 headings, send it off & await the response.  Makey-uppy request = makey-uppy plan

 

LMAO...brilliant....shall have to plagiarize this one!

[Rodriguez-Gonzalez]

Olivia:

 

This sounds interesting. It may be great for health care food services.

 

Like everyone in the group suggest, the word improvement is broad, and an improvement project/plan can also be specific. In my allergen research I have noticed that you could apply some six sigma techniques in the control of allergens. You can mention that in addition to monitoring products you are also in the outlook for emerging research.

 

I understand that the EU-Vital group is working on harmonizing the declaration of allergens, and there are also conversations on management best practices, which as you can notice in the cyan figure of the paper below it suggest the use of some process capability metrics like Ppk or Cpk.

 

http://www.eu-vital....tionlevels.html

 

http://www.sciencedi...924224410001986

 

Oscar

Edited by Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 21 June 2013 - 04:38 AM.

[Charles.C]

And the 10-point plan headings seem to have come directly from Allsafe "Managing Food Allergens"!

 

I am going to summarise what we do under the 10 headings, send it off & await the response.  Makey-uppy request = makey-uppy plan

 

Dear Olivia,

 

 

Irish Plagiarism ? Chicken or Egg? The Leprechaun Connection ?

 

Maybe it is known that  problems will eventually emerge. I noticed this advert elsewhere on the site –

 

Lean Tutor required with experience in the Manufacturing Sector. Lean experience in the Services sector and a qualification as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt would be advantageous.

 

 

Rgds / Charles.C