Primus V3.2 - 5.16.06 - Compressed Air Testing

Hello-

We are a whole potato packinghouse.  We receive potatoes, wash and sanitize, grade and pack.  Our process has been fairly simple until we recently added a new Visar sorting machine.  This machine uses direct contact compressed air to move the potatoes down the line.  Do I need to test the air?  And for what? And how often?

According to Primus 5.16.01 in v3.2 -we don't have to do environmental monitoring since we are not RTE.  However, I don't think compressed air falls under that because compressed air is addressed in 5.16.06.

Any help would be appreciated--for some reason I am just not getting it.

Thanks all.

I have limited knowledge on this so hopefully someone else can chime in but we test our ambient air as part of our environmental monitoring program and we test our food-contact compressed air separately. We have requirements for the particle size allowed through the filter and we have the air compressor on our preventive maintenance schedule. 

Hello-

 

We are a whole potato packinghouse.  We receive potatoes, wash and sanitize, grade and pack.  Our process has been fairly simple until we recently added a new Visar sorting machine.  This machine uses direct contact compressed air to move the potatoes down the line.  Do I need to test the air?  And for what? And how often?

 

According to Primus 5.16.01 in v3.2 -we don't have to do environmental monitoring since we are not RTE.  However, I don't think compressed air falls under that because compressed air is addressed in 5.16.06.

 

Any help would be appreciated--for some reason I am just not getting it.

 

Thanks all.

Hi Wendy,

So what does 5.16.06 say ?

Hi Charles,

Thanks for your reply.  That would be helpful if I included the information.  5.16.06 says:

5.16.06: Are there records of tests performed on compressed air or other mechanically introduced gases that is used directly on food and food contact surfaces and does testing meet the program requirements? Total Compliance (5 points): Compressed air or other mechanically introduced gases (e.g., nitrogen, carbon dioxide) used in direct contact with product, product food contact areas and the interior surface of packaging should be filtered and free of contaminants (e.g., microorganisms, particulates, water, oil, etc.). Oil used in compressors should be food grade (see 5.01.02). Compressors should have high efficiency filters at the compressor inlet and be fitted as close as possible to the point of use to protect against contamination (included as part of the equipment preventative maintenance, see 5.14.01) Testing should be based on a documented risk assessment and controls in place (e.g., use of the air/gas, risk to the product/food contact surfaces and type of process/product). At a minimum, testing should occur once every 12 months. Testing may include microbiological (e.g., total plate count, indicator organisms appropriate to operation) and moisture content (where moisture is a risk to the product e.g., dry operations). Testing should meet written program requirements (5.16.01) and be based on risk associated with the product and process. 

I think I've decided that we have to test.  I'm just not sure how we set limits?