Hello,
I have a lab background in liquid milk and I am very used to taste testing the final product before micro testing has been conducted, obviously raw milk testing underwent laboratory pasteurisation prior to taste testing took place.
I now work for an Ice cream company that require the production staff to taste test the product after each batch change, a number of staff are now refusing to taste the product on the grounds that the product has not undergone final microbiological testing (Entero & TVC), are there any industry guidelines for product taste testing before micro testing? Although I have 14ish years in the food industry, I have only worked for two companies, is it common place for taste testing to take place before final micro testing. I guess this will usually be conducted by the laboratory staff.