Is there any legal requirement or BRC requirement that product shelf life of MAP Packed Bread has to be reviewed at any frequency?

Hi,

I am wondering if there is any legal requirement or BRC requirement that product shelf life has to be reviewed at any frequency..? we have MAP packing bread which has 3 months life, we do annually micro biological testing for our product at start of the life. and we do annually EOL testing as organoleptic, but not sure if we should be doing EOL testing microbiologically annually.? or organoleptic is sufficient .?

P.s this is for existing product which has been in business for many years but not for new products.

Thanks for help.

regards

Nadim

Hi,

 

I am wondering if there is any legal requirement or BRC requirement that product shelf life has to be reviewed at any frequency..? we have MAP packing bread which has 3 months life, we do annually micro biological testing for our product at start of the life. and we do annually EOL testing as organoleptic, but not sure if we should be doing EOL testing microbiologically annually.? or organoleptic is sufficient .?

 

P.s this is for existing product which has been in business for many years but not for new products.

 

Thanks for help.

 

regards

 

Nadim

Hi Nadim.

Shelf-life monitoring is intended to verify that the product maintains acceptable safety, legality, and quality through the expected shelf life.  This typically, inter alia, implies that the product at EOL should comply with its specification. IMEX this includes micro. monitoring.

Also note this clause -

5.6.1.3 The site shall ensure that a system of validation and ongoing verification of the shelf life is in place. This shall be based on risk and shall include sensory analysis and, as applicable, microbiological
testing and relevant chemical factors such as pH and aw . Records and results from shelf-life tests shall verify the shelf-life period indicated on the product.

Where there are multiple products involved this enables a sampling routine.



 

Hi Charles,

Thanks for reply, so from what I understand  this will be based on risk assesment, what if previous historical micro results are all clean and no micro related complaints, would this allow EOL testing to be done microbiologically every 2-3 years if there is no change in process or material or Equipments..?

thanks

Nadim.