Environmental monitoring frequency for packaging
Does anyone have a process in place with the frequency of swabbing in a food packaging facility? We test for listeria/salmonella bi-monthly. My lab tells me it is up to me to determine the frequency but I don't know what is considered normal.
does anyone have a process in place with the frequency of swabbing in a food packaging facility? We test for listeria/salmonella bi-monthly. My lab tells me it is up to me to determine the frequency but I don't know what is considered normal.
Hi djammur,
I suggest to initially see this post/surrounding thread/sub-links -
Packaging of food products or manufacture of food packaging? At our last SQF audit our auditor told us that environmental monitoring, even though it's not required, is expected to be performed for food contact packaging manufacturers. We had an exemption for this up to that point but he recommended that we re-submit the request for exemption from the new Technical Manager. That was in May and I haven't heard from him yet. We also had an exemption from Food Fraud, which is now a Mandatory element, even though there's no chance of fraud in our specific situation.
Packaging of food products or manufacture of food packaging? At our last SQF audit our auditor told us that environmental monitoring, even though it's not required, is expected to be performed for food contact packaging manufacturers. We had an exemption for this up to that point but he recommended that we re-submit the request for exemption from the new Technical Manager. That was in May and I haven't heard from him yet. We also had an exemption from Food Fraud, which is now a Mandatory element, even though there's no chance of fraud in our specific situation.
Hi Hoosiersmoker,
I assumed the Forum was accurate.
IMO,so far, BRC seem to have been more "upfront" than SQF over their expectations.
We do 10 swabs quarterly and we manufacture food. We test for Listeria, E coli, Coli-form, Salmonella, Aerobic, Entreobacteria...we do 2 in Zone 1 and Zone 4, and 4 in Zone 2 and Zone 3. We send off all swabs in bags with 10mL of Letheen broth from 3m to an outside lab ISO certified to SQF code.
We do 10 swabs quarterly and we manufacture food. We test for Listeria, E coli, Coli-form, Salmonella, Aerobic, Entreobacteria...we do 2 in Zone 1 and Zone 4, and 4 in Zone 2 and Zone 3. We send off all swabs in bags with 10mL of Letheen broth from 3m to an outside lab ISO certified to SQF code.
Hi Penny,
Looks like you are mimicking FDA's exaggerated(?) level of sampling. Seems relatively unusual to respond to both wet and dry environments..And in Zone 1. Maybe you have a High Risk Product.
Thks for input but do note that the query was oriented to BRC and Food Packaging.