Distribution Center and Allergens

Good day to you all!

My company is currently undergoing a certification process for FSSC 22000. We produce vegetable oil only, though we receive various kinds of products in our Distribution Center that are allergens such as instant soups (kind of like ramen), cookies and a few types of sauces. 

The product is sealed in first, second and tertiary packages and there is a designated area for all the allergens to be in. 

We have gone through Phase 1 in the certification process and the auditor told us to justify it and validate if we close the area the allergens are in or not; and to look for FSMA stand of this, but all the references I can find only apply to allergens in process or raw allergen material storage, neither of which we have.

My question is: Do I have to completely box in the racks that cointain allergens, like a storage withing a storage?

And, do any of you have any links, reference, scientific backing I can look over to justify closing the area or keeping the area open, that you can share? Such as FSMA, FDA, EU or any GFSI standard that can shed light on this. 

Thanks to all of you in advance!

MercyZ,

Based on my understanding as mentioned above, it seems like that all the allergens you are handling are for distribution purposes only (with no use in your Veg oil processing).

If this is the case, as long as you are covering the allergen spillage and cleaning procedures you should be good.

Please refer to the following topic (discussed by our fellow members previously):

https://www.ifsqn.co...rage-practices/

IMO: you do not need to box-in the racks as long as they are maintained within the Allergen segregated area.

Hope it helps.

Need to segregate allergens by type, have a spill procedure, etc.  Since all sealed, do not have need to box out.

It really does help, thank you for your input, both of you!

I just need to find some literature about this case so I can have some back up in the eyes of the auditor. Do you have any recommendations to read for this topic (warehouse or distribution center allergen management) a little bit further or any recommendations on how to validate that I just need a really good anti spill and seggregation procedures? Like, do I need to swab the area to see any potential cross contamination?

Thank you in advance!

Thank you so much for your help!!

Hello,

I know this thread is almost a year old but i didn't want to start a new one since my question is similar to OP. 

I'm working on moving us from a simple yearly audit to an SQF certification and I'm having trouble interpreting the language for Allergens within a distribution center (we're a 3PL).

Our current Allergen policy states that we do not segregate allergen products, however, any spills and affected products are segregated and disposed of at our cost. Our current audit company accepts this procedure.

My questions are, do we need to segregate our allergens and update our policy? Or do we just keep the same procedure and add a spillage clean up procedure?

All of our allergens are frozen except refrigerate milk.

Thanks!

Jesus

Hi J,

You'll need to revamp your allergen program so that it is in line with SQF requirements, etc.

As a former SQF Auditor your current set-up would not be acceptable.

Hello Glen,

We are not a production facility, only a storage and distribution facility. All items are finished products and we are responsible for the cost of the cases that are affected. We follow our Allergen spillage procedure during our clean up process. As for capacity, do we actually have to segregate the items?

Thanks,

Jesus