8 replies to this topic

[Ogunkunle Makinde]

Is Water testing required for SQF Storage and Distribution site.

[SQFconsultant]

12.5.2 Water and Ice Quality 12.5.2.1 Microbiological analysis of the water and ice supply that comes into contact with food or food contact surfaces shall be conducted to verify the cleanliness of the supply, the monitoring activities, and the effectiveness of the treatment measures implemented. Verification, at minimum, shall be made annually. SQF Food Safety Code: Storage and Distribution, Edition 9 59 PART B: The SQF Food Safety Code: Storage and Distribution – Module 12 12.5.2.2 Water and ice shall be analyzed using reference standards and methods.

[Ogunkunle Makinde]

Thanks a lot Glenn. I appreciate it. I want to clarify if water testing would be required if the site is not handling exposed products.

[jfrey123]

Water testing would be required because SQF code calls for it.  If you want to exempt your facility from it based on the defense you to not handle exposed products, you'd have to write in advance requesting an exemption from 12.5.2 and show a hazard analysis based on what you just stated.  Up to you to prove the water is not a source of contamination in your operation.

 

Do you enforce handwashing and basic GMP's?  Do you have any sanitation activities that require water?  If yes to either, exempting yourself from one minimum annual test is going to be a hard sell.

[Ogunkunle Makinde]

Got it! Thanks a lot for the insight. Regards.

[Lynx42]

We are a storage and distribution site, no exposed food unless it is damaged and will be dumped.  We pull the water quality report from our local water municipality and we do a backflow test annually. Water for handwashing and cleaning is in our contingency plan. 
12.5.2 clearly says "contact with food or food contact surfaces" and for our location any food that could possibly come into contact with water is swept or mopped up and dumped.  Would not the water quality report work for storage only facilities?
We are not SQF yet, but hoping to be this year.  

 

Amy

[SQFconsultant]

Jfrey does have a point -  and true the code does make it kind of grey - however for hand washing and if you are using water for drinking or sanitation you will need to have the water tested, all of our DC clients get their water tested.

 

Also, most times that report from the local water authority is months to a year old.

 

Peace of mind is really a good thing.

 

And Amy - I would never reply on a local water report, considering they are normally the ones that put floride in the water, my confidence in the local water reports is quite low.

 

I suggest popping for a water test 2 times a year

[Scotty_SQF]

The cost for water testing is fairly minimal.  I would just get it done.  That way you have it and there is no further discussion during the audit when you get to that section.

[jfrey123]

We are a storage and distribution site, no exposed food unless it is damaged and will be dumped.  We pull the water quality report from our local water municipality and we do a backflow test annually. Water for handwashing and cleaning is in our contingency plan. 
12.5.2 clearly says "contact with food or food contact surfaces" and for our location any food that could possibly come into contact with water is swept or mopped up and dumped.  Would not the water quality report work for storage only facilities?
We are not SQF yet, but hoping to be this year.  

 

Amy

 

Pulling the municipal water report for your area is usually insufficient for any operation, as that water is being tested at the city's pre-determined sites.  It doesn't reflect the quality of the water being dispensed after it's piped to your plant.  Extreme example:  You can pull a water report for the city of Flint, MI, and it shows no violation for levels of lead, but we know users in that city have a very different experience.

 

I'm with Scotty: water tests are cheap, and SQF only calls for a minimum of one per year.  You can justify the one time test each year in your testing schedule SOP due to everything you described about your operation (yes, you'll want to have your justification for the annual frequency written into your program documents).  Water indeed sounds like a very low risk in your operation.  But if you want to skip the water test entirely, you'll have to notify your CB that you wish to exempt your plant from that code section ahead of time.  Exemptions get a little more scrutiny, and it'll leave an opening for the auditor to question everything you do for cleaning while they're on-site.  "So you use water to wash hands and mop the floors, but how do you know the water isn't a source of pathogens?"