4 replies to this topic

[dairydairydairy]

Does anyone have a laid out procedure on what to do if you receive a positive allergen test result on in-house allergen testing? A root cause analysis/investigation/corrective action report template maybe? 

[Gelato Quality Lead]

Do you mean for environmental monitoring or for finished product?

[SoupsNStuff]

1. Stop production until source is identified.
2. Place any suspected contaminated ingredient or product on hold. 
3. Investigate source: improper sanitation, ingredient contamination, personnel contamination, etc
4. Corrective action based on root cause: reclean equipment, retraining, recall, ask supplier for corrective action, etc
5. Assess status of on hold product/ingredient. Only release product you are 100% sure is uncontaminated. 
6. Depending on severity/issue, contaminated product or ingredient may be relabeled with the allergen of contamination or reworked. Though again, if you are selling something milk-free, DO NOT rework milk-contaminated product into that. Only into other things containing milk. 

Basically just follow standard CAPA procedures. 

 

Oh and of course document everything. 

Edited by SoupsNStuff, 12 April 2023 - 04:25 PM.

[dairydairydairy]

Do you mean for environmental monitoring or for finished product?

For finished product. Thanks! :) 

[emportllc]

You've gotten good advice already, but I'll just add: 

 

Get in touch with whoever sells you the kits and ask them to help you troubleshoot! 

 

On the one hand: if you've been using a particular test kit uneventfully and suddenly you get a positive result, it's probably because you have a contamination issue. 

 

On the other: sometimes something else is going on. A quick conversation with your vendor is usually worthwhile.