7 replies to this topic

[parrottgower]

I work at  red meat plant. We make no claims as to being allergen free but due to milk from lactating udders on older cattle, have to carry out a risk assessment. Any help would be good?

[ganderson64]

I have used a milk protein detection test from a company called Neogen. My SQF auditor suggested that the best validation of non-allergenicity is to perform this type of test immediately after cleaning / sanitation procedures. (I do not work in a red meat plant, simply a food ingredient plant where we have to demonstrate mitigation of potential cross contamination threats)

[Mulan1010]

Testing would support your risk assessment but to do a risk assessment I suggest you take your HACCP flow chart and consider where the milk allergen could be introduced in your process and then you describe what measures you have in place to control it at that step or measures you have in place to ensure it is not introduced into your process.  Then you follow your flow chart to see if it could be transferred or re-introduced elsewhere in your process and make sure you have controls in place to ensure that does not happen.  The test kits can be used to verify sanitation procedures are effective but can also be used during production to verify that areas are not being cross-contacted to.   

[Cumbrian]

Charm Sciences also do a simple swab/incubate test for milk proteins

[Simon]

If you want milk analysis you should check out Milk Lab

 

Regards,

Simon

[parrottgower]

Hi,

 

Thanks for taking the time out to answer, that's really helpful!

[aps]

Hi

I got same issue. I have had two non conformances due to needing to put a procedure together for spillages on carcasses and floor. Any ideas what to do if udders leak when removing as I am stumped on this.

Can anyone advise or help in what to do

Regards

[ChocoTiger]

aps,

 

A procedure for a leaking udder would be similar to one for a busted gut, or a carcass getting pulled down the chute by the hide puller (this happened a lot at the lamb slaughterhouse I was assigned to). 

 

Example: 

 

In the event of an udder leaking onto a carcass on the line, the following procedure will be put into action:

1) The line will be stopped

2) The affected carcass will be railed out to the trim/inspection/suspect area

3) The affected portions of the carcass will be trimmed off and disposed of properly in the appropriate receptacle.  The whole carcass will be rinsed to ensure removal of contamination

4) The QA Manager/Production Manager (or both) will verify removal of contamination, and release the carcass back into production.  (If you have an federal inspector and/or veterinarian, you would want them to give the all clear for this, too).

 

I hope this helps.  Holler if you need any further assistance.