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Action to be taken on finished products with enterobacteria greater than 10 cfu?

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oseigloria

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Posted 31 July 2020 - 09:24 PM

What action can be taken on finished products with enterobacteria greater than 10 cfu?

The products are (margarine (70% fat) and spread (20% fat)



Slab

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Posted 01 August 2020 - 10:11 AM

Hi, oseigloria;

 

What is the actual CFU?

 

>10 is a rather low tolerance limit. >100 - <10^4 is an acceptable range for most RTE commodities.

 

Having said that I would ask just how prevalent the results are. Also, have you screened for e. coli and salmonella?

 

Start with the easiest fix and closely monitor employee hand washing. Maybe grab some pre/post swabs from monitored hand washing just to validate process. Do some environmental sampling to ensure it is not harborage from poor sanitation. Other than that I would have to know more about your specific product and process. There could be innumerable variables

 

 


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Charles.C

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Posted 02 August 2020 - 11:55 AM

Hi, oseigloria;

 

What is the actual CFU?

 

>10 is a rather low tolerance limit. >100 - <10^4 is an acceptable range for most RTE commodities.

 

Having said that I would ask just how prevalent the results are. Also, have you screened for e. coli and salmonella?

 

Start with the easiest fix and closely monitor employee hand washing. Maybe grab some pre/post swabs from monitored hand washing just to validate process. Do some environmental sampling to ensure it is not harborage from poor sanitation. Other than that I would have to know more about your specific product and process. There could be innumerable variables

Hi Slab,

 

Some (rather old) specifications -

 

Attached File  spec. margarine.PNG   77.88KB   1 downloads

Attached File  USDA spec. Margarine.PNG   39.95KB   0 downloads


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


Slab

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Posted 02 August 2020 - 06:20 PM

Hi, Charles;

 

I can't access the attachments


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"Some people freak out when they see small vertebra in their pasta" ~ Chef John


Charles.C

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Posted 03 August 2020 - 11:11 AM

Hi, Charles;

 

I can't access the attachments

Sorry, files vanished somehow.  :smile:

 

Have corrected.

 

Theoretically coliforms should (mostly) be included within Enterobacteriaceae afaik.

 

@oseigloria - The (book) comment around 1st pic is that margarine should be essentially sterile after Production. So the implication is that it's a question of hygiene control.

 

As per post 2, what level of Enterobacteriaceae do you actually  find ?

 

+  What is your routine level ?


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


Slab

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Posted 03 August 2020 - 12:27 PM

Those levels are absurdly stringent, but as suggested post process is considered aseptic then the presence of any organism >1 should be problematic. Curious as to know why the standard is for storage of samples for greater than 2 weeks at room temperature? Normally margarine is refrigerated? I don't use the stuff so the concept seems a bit foreign to me.

 

There is some overlap in screening from coliform to EB, however the later is more inclusive.


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Charles.C

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Posted 03 August 2020 - 12:49 PM

Those levels are absurdly stringent, but as suggested post process is considered aseptic then the presence of any organism >1 should be problematic. Curious as to know why the standard is for storage of samples for greater than 2 weeks at room temperature? Normally margarine is refrigerated? I don't use the stuff so the concept seems a bit foreign to me.

 

There is some overlap in screening from coliform to EB, however the later is more inclusive.

 

I also have no direct experience.

 

Re ^^^(red) - The internet quote was -

 

"All coliforms are enteros but not all enteros are coliforms"

http://www.expressmi...iforms-enteros/

 

2 more quotes from the book "Margarine Today" (Great title !) -

 

Attached File  sterility.PNG   38.38KB   0 downloads

Attached File  storage.PNG   47.53KB   0 downloads


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C




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