Hi,
How you consider yeast and mould count, is it safety or quality issue if it is out of specification?
The answer might depend on what Produce is involved and the interpretation of "safety". I have focussed on HACCP "hazards"
IMEX "Yeast" is not considered a FS concern. Excepting the caveat above, "Mould" and Y&M count are usually not considered a haccp hazard. Some authors may disagree (see below).
Some examples -
Unlike bacteria, yeasts and molds are eukaryotic organism in the fungus kingdom. Most of them belong to the phyla Ascomycota and Zygomycota. Yeasts and molds are commonly enumerated in foods as quality indicators. They have no predictive value for the occurrence of toxigenic fungi or other pathogens. As a group, the yeasts and molds are diverse and can grow on virtually any foodstuff.
YM-7.pdf 140.46KB
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Yeast and/or Mould are not mentioned in the (non-exhaustive) list of Potential Hazards in the Draft FDA Guidance for Preventive Controls or as hazards within the (Appendix) Tables of Food Categories-
YM-8.pdf 87.02KB
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Generally, yeast and molds do not pose a biological hazard in food. Some molds produce hazardous toxins, but these toxins are considered chemical hazards.
YM 1.pdf 63.54KB
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Yeast and Mould Counts
Yeast and Mould (fungal) are generally regarded as members of the spoilage organism group.
However, there are no guidelines for result interpretation in any FSANZ document.
YM - 2.pdf 749.65KB
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Yeast and mold cause food to spoil but do not cause foodborne illness.
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Some molds cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. And a few molds, in the right conditions, produce mycotoxins (or poisons) that can make you sick.
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YM-3.pdf 165.06KB
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YM-4.png 136.23KB
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YM-4a.pdf 4.52MB
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(HACCP) Types of Hazards
There are four types of hazards that you need to consider:
Microbiological hazards
Microbiological hazards include bacteria, yeasts, moulds and viruses.
Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards include water, food contact materials, cleaning agents, pest control substances, contaminants (environmental, agricultural and process e.g. acrylamide), pesticides, biocides and food additives.
Physical hazards
Physical hazards include glass, packaging, jewellery, pest droppings, screws etc.
Allergens
This refers to the risk associated with the unintended presence of one or more of the 14 EU listed food allergens due to cross-contamination
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YM-5.pdf 131.18KB
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Mould can often be looked upon as a quality problem and is overlooked in terms of HACCP work. It is not the growth of mould itself that represents a health risk, but any mycotoxins in the product that represent a risk for the consumer..
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In the HACCP plan, knowledge is needed about which mould fungi are a problem and whether these fungi can produce mycotoxins. A risk analysis must therefore be made of the consequences of mould growth on the products. It is also important to focus on air quality and ventilation, to prevent the spread of fungal spores around the premises

Ym-6.pdf 254.98KB
81 downloads