Testing of water and Ice....
Hi,
Please somebody tell me that if ice is manufactured by the potable water which is tested as per statuary requirement from NABL approved lab.Do i still need to conduct the same test for Ice too.
Kindly suggest
Thanks
Bhupendra Sharma
If a customer requirement, do you have a copy of testing reports? Meaning can you provide recent proof to your customer(s) of the water testing.
Next question would be, how reliable is the lab that tests the water, how are samples taken, etc.
We have a number of clients that get ice from outside sources and while those sources have local water testing information available our clients still have their own independent tests done - sometimes the results are very telling as to why you can't always rely on a 2nd or 3rd party removed entity.
My answer would be yes, because ice is made in a mechanical device which needs regular sanitation or at that is how it is done in most cases. Testing ice is not just a water test, but process and sanitation check as well. I read recently that ice is one the most common sources of food borne illness and too often not a consideration.
We use ice as a ingredient. The ice is made in ice machines from potable water supply.
For GMP audit we are required to test the water AND ice once a year at minimum to demonstrate that the water supply is potable and meets the local requirements.
(in the U.S., the test for potability is
<1 coliform / 100 ml).
We send samples of the water and separate samples from each ice machine to a outside lab.
So I would say yes you need to test the ice too.
We use ice as a ingredient. The ice is made in ice machines from potable water supply.
For GMP audit we are required to test the water AND ice once a year at minimum to demonstrate that the water supply is potable and meets the local requirements.
(in the U.S., the test for potability is
<1 coliform / 100 ml).
We send samples of the water and separate samples from each ice machine to a outside lab.
So I would say yes you need to test the ice too.
one more thing i want to know that complete testing is required of ice i.e heavy metal, pesticide residue etc. or just physical and microbial parameters are enough.
one more thing i want to know that complete testing is required of ice i.e heavy metal, pesticide residue etc. or just physical and microbial parameters are enough.
Hi Bhupendra,
I suggest you determine if there is a local Regulatory requirement for Water/Ice for yr specific Business. There often is and it often varies with Country.
My guess is that the Lab referred to in yr OP will have this info. directly to hand.
Hi,
I agree with Charles. On the other hand even if there is no local requirement I assume that your risk assessment will lead you to test.
In Germany we have a high standard for potable water. This is up to the handover point under control of the water supplier. All the pipings on your ground - which can be many, many meters depend on size of the plant - are under your repsonsibility. Each manipulation (cutting of pipings, dead ends) will "treat" the water quality. As a result you take water samples at the end of the pipings close to the addition to food to check whether it fulfills the requirement for potable water. Making ice in an ice machine and store it there is a treatment to be check in my opinion.
Rgds
moskito