Posted 02 June 2015 - 05:15 AM
Hi diorc1922
Your hygiene rules should stipulate that consumption should only be in your designated area. Are staff removing their protective clothing when they leave the production area? as if not this will be considered a risk if you allow employees to consume allergens on site in the lunch room.
Stricter controls on consuming allergens are required if you are making 'allergen free' claims.
Relevant extracts from the BRC Standard and Interpretation Guidelines:
4.8.9 All food brought into manufacturing premises by staff shall be appropriately stored in a clean and hygienic state. No food shall be taken into storage, processing or production areas. Where eating of food is allowed outside during breaks, this shall be in suitable designated areas with appropriate control of waste.
Interpretation: Staff food
All food and drink must be consumed in designated areas away from food handling, production and storage areas. Where appropriate, designated outside areas can be provided for staff to eat food;...
4.8.10 Where catering facilities are provided on the premises, they shall be suitably controlled to prevent contamination of products (e.g. as a source of food poisoning or introduction of allergenic material to the site).
Interpretation: Catering facilities
In some operations (e.g. sites manufacturing a product with an allergen claim), specific allergens present a particular risk. These sites should specify any relevant company policies to confectionery vending suppliers and catering facilities (e.g. a ‘no nut policy’ on the site due to the manufacture of ‘nut-free’ products).
Regards,
Tony