5 replies to this topic

[paconmatt]

At our facility we manufacture net bags to hold raw produce so we are a food contact packaging manufacturer.  But we also print our own labels.  For traceability do I need to keep records of the lot number for the different inks and things or do I need to just keep lot number records for the ingredients that end up having direct contact with the produce ( such as the plastic pellets used to make plastic net and color additive).  So what I'm asking is do I need lot numbers for things that never come in contact with the item in the bag.

[Mr. Incognito]

Personally I think it would be a stretch to need to keep lot numbers of the ink.  For the most part you need the lot number for everything that will come in contact with the product...

[jel]

At our facility we manufacture net bags to hold raw produce so we are a food contact packaging manufacturer.  But we also print our own labels.  For traceability do I need to keep records of the lot number for the different inks and things or do I need to just keep lot number records for the ingredients that end up having direct contact with the produce ( such as the plastic pellets used to make plastic net and color additive).  So what I'm asking is do I need lot numbers for things that never come in contact with the item in the bag.

Packing materials can be direct contact, indirect contact, or no contact with food. Materials having direct contact, are always going to have direct contact with the food during its lifetime. Indirect contact with the materials, they will not be in contact with food during its lifetime, but at some point there may be the possibility of transfer of any actual substance of the packaging material to the product. The material has no contact will never be in contact with food for life, and there is no possibility of transfer. 

 

Therefore traceability have to set the materials for those contacts and indirect contact.

[Mr. Incognito]

unless it smears or migrates through the label there is no risk of contact... unless your customer adds it in on their end... that would be their mistake.

[Charles.C]

Dear paconmatt,

 

I suggest it may depend on what ink(s) you actually use. From memory of  previous threads here on the US stance with respect to the FS aspects of printing inks / required validation, the situation was highly ambiguous.

 

Uncertainty might well encourage traceability.

 

Rgds / Charles.C