Looking for Allergen Control Policy, SOP and supporting documents

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REQUIREMENTS

5.3.1

The site shall carry out an assessment of raw materials to establish the presence and likelihood of contamination by allergens (see glossary). This shall include a review of the raw material specifications and, where required, the acquisition of additional information from suppliers (e.g. through questionnaires to understand the allergen status of the raw material, its ingredients and the factory in which it is produced).

5.3.2

The company shall identify and list allergen-containing materials handled on site. This shall include raw materials, processing aids, intermediate and finished products, and any new product development ingredients or products.

5.3.3

A documented risk assessment shall be carried out to identify routes of contamination and establish documented policies and procedures for handling raw materials and intermediate and finished products to ensure cross-contamination (cross-contact) is avoided. This assessment shall include:

• consideration of the physical state of the allergenic material (i.e. powder, liquid, particulate)

• identification of potential points of cross-contamination (cross-contact) through the process flow

• assessment of the risk of allergen cross-contamination (cross-contact) at each process step

• identification of suitable controls to reduce or eliminate the risk of cross-contamination (cross-

  contact).

5.3.4

Procedures shall be established to ensure the effective management of allergenic materials to prevent cross-contamination (cross-contact) of products not containing the allergen. These shall include, as appropriate:

• physical or time segregation while allergen-containing materials are being stored, processed or

• packed

• the use of separate or additional protective overclothing when handling allergenic materials

• use of identified, dedicated equipment and utensils for processing

  scheduling of production to reduce changes between products containing an allergen and products

• not containing the allergen

• systems to restrict the movement of airborne dust containing allergenic material

• waste handling and spillage controls

  restrictions on food brought onto site by staff, visitors and contractors and for catering purposes.

5.3.5

Where rework is used, or reworking operations are carried out, procedures shall be implemented to ensure rework containing allergens is not used in products that do not already contain the allergen.

5.3.6

Where a justified, risk-based assessment demonstrates that the nature of the production process is such that cross-contamination (cross-contact) from an allergen cannot be prevented, a warning should be included on the label. National guidelines or codes of practice shall be used when making such a warning statement.

5.3.7

Where a claim is made regarding the suitability of a food for allergy or food sensitivity sufferers, the site shall ensure that the production process is fully validated to meet the stated claim and the effectiveness of the process is routinely verified. This shall be documented.

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