"Food Processing Area" in a Storage and Distribution Warehouse
Greetings,
I work for a Storage and Distribution Warehouse for produce. We recently had a pre-assessment audit for SQF level 2. We do NO processing ( slicing, dicing, etc) we do however take product from one case ( 25 pound) and repack into smaller cases ( 5 to 10 pounders). The auditor observed staff to be wearing an phone ear bud during repack of product and noted so on report as being done in "food processing area". We have noted in our policy that personal garments are not allowed. My question is, do we need to document that our repack room is a food handling area only, since this is the only time the actual product is handled outside the case? Or will our loading and unloading docks be "food handling areas" as well? Just so I can update our policy on personal garments.
Thank you,
As long as you can create a clear division by a line on the floor, walls, or some other physical barrier/separation, you can have a specific food handling area with stricter controls than the other areas. It's exactly what traditional processors do with their warehouse areas (if products can be stored ambient, refrigerated storage is more strict.
Level of control needed depends on what you're repacking and associated risk, and some amount of who's auditing.
Getting past the different definitions people may have for "food processing", "food handling", etc:
Is the food item exposed when it is repacked?
Is there a chance of an earbud, jewelry, etc. getting into the food?
If yes, then you have a contamination risk that must be controlled.
Is there a "receiving area" separate from "packing area"? In our GMPs we do not allow earbuds (for hearing protection) unless they are attached by a cord or earmuffs. The small foam ear plugs can easily get lost in your product. Folks who wear jewelry or accessories in the food processing area must have them covered by their outer gear such as a hooded jacket or ski mask -- if working in a freezer or cooler.
Along the same lines as the previous questions... We cut, grind and process products meat products. We ground beef and pork product in one end of our building and cut meat in another end of our building. On occasion we transfer covered product on patty racks or lugs to the other area through our warehouse/hallways. Is the warehouse/hallways classified as a food handling area since product is transferred through it even though product is not "open" in the warehouse/hallways?
What should our smoking, chewing, eating, drinking, spitting policy be regarding this warehouse/hallway? Module 11.3.1.3
Along the same lines as the previous questions... We cut, grind and process products meat products. We ground beef and pork product in one end of our building and cut meat in another end of our building. On occasion we transfer covered product on patty racks or lugs to the other area through our warehouse/hallways. Is the warehouse/hallways classified as a food handling area since product is transferred through it even though product is not "open" in the warehouse/hallways?
What should our smoking, chewing, eating, drinking, spitting policy be regarding this warehouse/hallway? Module 11.3.1.3
If you're moving exposed product, then it's a food handling area. All your GMP's will be maintained, but perhaps your sanitation intervals will be more lax.
Is the product exposed when you are repacking it? When you say 'earbud' do you mean hearing protection or a the type of earbuds you hook to an ipod? If people are listening to music/whatever it is a safety hazard. If the product is exposed, or there is any way anything could get in the product, you have to treat it with the same stringent level as any exposed food. Definitely hearing protection always needs to be the ear plugs with a string. Good luck.