Hey everyone! I'm relatively new to the whole SQF packaging world, and trying to figure out the environmental monitoring part. The code does not give a whole lot of guidance, either, aside from testing must be done twice a year. From what I've seen in my company's records, we test for Aerobic Plate Count and Total Coliforms, and that is it. Does it make sense to test for mold as well? And should we even be testing Total Coliforms on product contact surfaces, as that seems to be a test for water sources? I guess it could be to verify that the water we are using to clean is clean?
Also, as a follow up question, does anyone know what the limits should be on these tests? What I gathered from the FDA's Bacteriological Analytical Manual (chapter 3), is that Aerobic Plate Count is normal between 30 and 250. But I have seen nothing for limits on Total Coliforms.
Background information: this is for polystyrene foam packaging for food applications.
Any insight you can provide would be immensely helpful! Thanks.