Is Compressed Air Testing required where air is used on a food contact surface?
We are currently SQF 8.1 Certified. We use compressed air with a .01 Micron filter to blow Shell Egg cartons apart, thus the air is coming into contact with a food contact surface. My question Is testing of the compressed air required? The auditor during our recent audit did not see them use the compressed air to blow apart the cartons, so it was never questioned.
Forgot to mention, SQF Module 2 and 11
If the product is shell eggs and you can demonstrate that the air really is not coming in contact with the edible part of the product, then i would say no, however I will strongly caution you that an astute auditor will question how you support this. As eggshells are porous I think a good auditor could argue the point that it is product contact and that the testing is required.
On the note of the auditor not seeing/asking for this information; Please remember that an audit is a "snapshot" in time and that auditors are trying to look at as much of your system as possible in the time they are given. Sometimes they will miss something or make the decision that there are other topics in the code that require attention during the audit.
Tina
We are currently SQF 8.1 Certified. We use compressed air with a .01 Micron filter to blow Shell Egg cartons apart, thus the air is coming into contact with a food contact surface. My question Is testing of the compressed air required? The auditor during our recent audit did not see them use the compressed air to blow apart the cartons, so it was never questioned.
Yes, it is required.
We are currently SQF 8.1 Certified. We use compressed air with a .01 Micron filter to blow Shell Egg cartons apart, thus the air is coming into contact with a food contact surface. My question Is testing of the compressed air required? The auditor during our recent audit did not see them use the compressed air to blow apart the cartons, so it was never questioned.
I suggest you have a look at these SQF threads (there are many others also) -
I'm curious as to what your process is. We are an egg grader and the cartons are mechanically fed into the system. Using compressed air seems like an inefficient way to separate the bundle.
We also have egg grading process. Auditor never ask about filtering compressed air. And it is normally for egg grading process. But for... to be very sure about safety of our process we decided to test air wich is used for dry cleaning of moba grading machine. Test are done and hope results are ready. Have to check. This pressed air comes into contact with food contact surfaces. We dont want to see enterobacteria in it. We have to be sure that air pipes/line is cleanYes, it is required.
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We also have egg grading process. Auditor never ask about filtering compressed air. And it is normally for egg grading process. But for... to be very sure about safety of our process we decided to test air wich is used for dry cleaning of moba grading machine. Test are done and hope results are ready. Have to check. This pressed air comes into contact with food contact surfaces. We dont want to see enterobacteria in it. We have to be sure that air pipes/line is clean
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Hi baltanakts,
Thks for yr input.
Are you certified to current SQF Food Manufacturing Standard ?
Yes. We are certified according BRC.Hi baltanakts,
Thks for yr input.
Are you certified to current SQF Food Manufacturing Standard ?
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Yes. We are certified according BRC.
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Thks reply.
Note that the OP is related to SQF Standard.
I assume BRC/SQF will classify the process under discussion as low risk.
afaik BRC's interest in air/compressed air micro. quality is primarily focussed on other than low risk product/low risk process areas (text clause 4.5.3/interp.guide is ambiguous).
SQF Standard is somewhat more definitive than BRC regarding compressed air but still "hazy" on the specific requirements.
Calling SQF "hazy" is a mild way of putting it. I was on my way to a hemorrhage trying to find out what I actually need to do for air quality. As with many things you just need to commit to your system and be willing to defend it. That said I am looking at doing an air quality test this year despite air never touching product contact surfaces without being cleaned afterwards in our process. I also have purchased a quaternary ammonium spray as a final step after blowing down the machines.
We have also high care area in liquid egg pruction. And ambient law risk area with high hygiene. There are different requirements for air.Thks reply.
Note that the OP is related to SQF Standard.
I assume BRC/SQF will classify the process under discussion as low risk.
afaik BRC's interest in air/compressed air micro. quality is primarily focussed on other than low risk product/low risk process areas (text clause 4.5.3/interp.guide is ambiguous).
SQF Standard is somewhat more definitive than BRC regarding compressed air but still "hazy" on the specific requirements.
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For environmental air we use MB-2.
WHAT WE COULD USE FOR AIR WHICH IS MADE BY COMPRESSORS IN FOOD PRODUCTION?
In internet i found some models for compressed ai sampling, but they are very expensive. Do all these samplers for compressed air sampling are expensive?
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I don't know what the term "expensive" means, $1.00 to someone is expensive, where $100 is not.
With that said we get compressed air test kits sent to us, we hook up the tube sampling unit and let it sit for a little while and then unhook and send it back to the lab from where it came from.
We get an online report.
total about $300.
I found these compressed air analizersI don't know what the term "expensive" means, $1.00 to someone is expensive, where $100 is not.
With that said we get compressed air test kits sent to us, we hook up the tube sampling unit and let it sit for a little while and then unhook and send it back to the lab from where it came from.
We get an online report.
total about $300.
https://www.measurem...e-concentration
Cost is about 28 000 euro.
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Do i think right that microorganisms are counted like particles. Is it so or not? These analyzers count all particles, incl, microorganismsI found these compressed air analizers
https://www.measurem...e-concentration
Cost is about 28 000 euro.
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