9 replies to this topic

[JBright11]

Hello, we are a 3PL firm and we handle both human food (ingredients / finished product / packaging) and Pet food and treats. All our pet food products are confined to a specific area within the warehouse and do not segregate products by allergen content as it is not a concern with pet foods. Would I be required to determine the contents of "human" allergens (big 8) within these products and include them on my allergen register? Regards, Jamie

[SQFconsultant]

All of our 3pl's do it by allergen types with the big 8 applying.

[Scampi]

Risk assessment first then determine if cross contamination is actually an issue

 

do forklifts/employees travel between human/pet areas?  Are there functional doors between areas?  What kind of packaging     What is the procesure when a fork breaks a pallet open?

 

that sort of thing

[JBright11]

Hello sir,

Thank you for the response.

Are you referring to inclusion on the Allergen listing, or for marking and segregation while in storage....or both?

Sorry for the potentially silly question, but I would rather not assume. 

 

Regards,

Jamie

[SQFconsultant]

Hello sir,

Thank you for the response.

Are you referring to inclusion on the Allergen listing, or for marking and segregation while in storage....or both?

Sorry for the potentially silly question, but I would rather not assume. 

 

Regards,

Jamie

Hi Jamie - it applied to both. Our clients treat pet food and treats just like they do with human grade foods.

[JBright11]

Risk assessment first then determine if cross contamination is actually an issue

 

do forklifts/employees travel between human/pet areas?  Are there functional doors between areas?  What kind of packaging     What is the procesure when a fork breaks a pallet open?

 

that sort of thing

 

Hello,

Thank you for the response.

Yes, employees and forklifts do travel between the human and pet food areas.  The areas are separated by a high-speed door.

The products are packaged in bags on pallets, in cans enclosed in a case, in bags enclosed in cases, and in boxes enclosed in larger cases.

When products are damaged or spilled they are disposed of, and the area cleaned and adjacent products inspected for potential contamination and either cleaned as required or disposed of. 

 

We do not have exposed product areas within our facility and handle only sealed products, for both human and pet food.

[Scampi]

Yes, under these conditions, you need to include all allergens regardless of where they originate from

 

 

Also, think about cleaning the fork truck wheels and forks, if there is a puncture on an allergen containing product

[Charles.C]

Hello,

Thank you for the response.

Yes, employees and forklifts do travel between the human and pet food areas.  The areas are separated by a high-speed door.

The products are packaged in bags on pallets, in cans enclosed in a case, in bags enclosed in cases, and in boxes enclosed in larger cases.

When products are damaged or spilled they are disposed of, and the area cleaned and adjacent products inspected for potential contamination and either cleaned as required or disposed of. 

 

We do not have exposed product areas within our facility and handle only sealed products, for both human and pet food.

 

Unfortunately, assuming petfood is requiring same control as human food, the allergen aspect can be somewhat of a minefield with respect to segregation.

 

eg see this parallel thread -

 

https://www.ifsqn.co...es/#entry169412

 

As already noted, the degree of control expected may come down to risk assessment.

[JBright11]

Hello again,

We are working to implement allergen control for our pet food products and have an upcoming SQF site audit in 6 weeks or so.

We distribute some "variety packs" of cat food for one of our customers that contains 3-4 different flavors of cat food.  These variety packs are packaged on flats, and wrapped in thick plastic wrapping for each flat.  These products may contain different allergens in each flavor.

 

How do I manage allergen control, segregation, etc, if multiple allergens are all packaged together in this manner?

[kingstudruler1]

Hello again,

We are working to implement allergen control for our pet food products and have an upcoming SQF site audit in 6 weeks or so.

We distribute some "variety packs" of cat food for one of our customers that contains 3-4 different flavors of cat food.  These variety packs are packaged on flats, and wrapped in thick plastic wrapping for each flat.  These products may contain different allergens in each flavor.

 

How do I manage allergen control, segregation, etc, if multiple allergens are all packaged together in this manner?

the variety pack is just one sell unit.  think of it like any single container that contains more than one allergen.  

 

you may need to have a multiple allergen area.   

 

you may need something like:  a wheat area, a soy area, a fish area.   a wheat & soy area.   a fish and wheat area.  etc. You could have fish area above a fish and wheat area, but not the other way around obviously.  

 

in case you don't understand the risk of allergens in pet food:   humans handle them, toddlers / kids can pick them up & eat, people actually eat them.  

 

I hope this helps.