Radiological substance in raw material Hazard Analysis Assessment

Hi Guys!

We are a sugar manufacturing company. Recently, we had a NCR raised by auditor relevant to ISO 22000 clause whereby we do not include radiological aspect in our Raw Material Hazard Analysis Assessment. Does anybody has a sample of the aspect included in their raw material Hazard Analysis? Thank you.

Greetings Lechumi,

Following the same method for cross-contaminations with physical/chemical/microbiological for your raw material you do the same with radiological hazards. What you take into account in your assessement is mostly the origin of your raw materials, meaning if they are produced somewhere that is close to a nuclear plant or a place that toxic waste used to be disposed/leaked or a mining site for radioactive materials as well as if the have been treated with radiation.

This has also been discussed here:

https://www.ifsqn.co...w-meat-process/

The risk is negligible unless something from the above mentioned is occuring, so don't overextend on it or your auditor may ask you in the future for radiological analysis and you won't like it!

Regards!

Hello Lechumi, I got my food start in a sugar plant!

As Evans mentioned, your auditor is looking for R specifically to be added to your HACCP. As sugar is a commodity, it will be difficult to track the origin of the sugar with any great accuracy.

In our HACCP for R hazards we utilized and referenced the Codex Alimentarius, which at the time had no known hazards associated radiologically for sugar. We also explained in the HACCP that sugar is not typically exposed to ionizing radiation to remove any hazards.

However, we were audited to SQF standards, not ISO, and you will want to review your auditors comments to make sure you cover any specifics.

Greetings Evan, 

Thank you for your detailed explanation. That really helps me a lot.

Hi Tim!

Good knowing you. That was a clear explanation. Thank you so much for your sharing.