6 replies to this topic

[TruptiG]

Hello,

 

What is the requirement for damaged/expose ingredient bags in dry storage area?

How should it be worded it?

Are they allowed to tape the ripped area for dry ingredient bags? 

 

Thank you, 

[jfrey123]

Ask yourself how was the bag damaged, and what could the exposure mean to the safety of that product.  I can think of very few scenarios, if any, where a damaged bag should be preserved for use in your process or sale.  The bag's job is to protect the food within from environmental contamination, pests, etc.  Taping the bag is a hard no for me, as the tape itself is going to attract airborne contaminants to the package and the food, and if the bag is raw input to your process, that tape now becomes a FM hazard when the bag enters your production area.

[AltonBrownFanClub]

No. Ripped bags cannot be taped.

The adhesive on most tape is not an approved food contact surface.

 

You also have to consider what caused the damage. Lets say a forklift punctures a bag.

The forklift is dirty and contaminated that bag. It should be thrown away.

The last thing you want is grease, dirt, or foreign material getting into your product because you tried to salvage a damaged bag.

 

Best practice is always to throw it out. May seem wasteful to discard, but a recall will create much more waste.

[TruptiG]

Thank you, guys. This was very helpful. 

[nwilson]

I have used tape only to contain the ripped bag on a pallet from further spillage.  This is to aid in not having staff restack a whole pallet of say 2500 pounds.  The tape color was chosen based on if the damage was internal or external and all staff were trained on NOT using any bag that had tape or was otherwise found ripped.   This was all reported to QA and placed on hold and disposed of.  As stated a fork lift is gross (how about some hydraulic fluid with your product) and in reality its very hard to risk assess a ripped bag.  Its a hard no from me.  

[TruptiG]

Thank you this helps a lot. 

[MDaleDDF]

nuttin fer nuttin but my forklifts aren't gross.    We have them on a cleaning schedule, and I've swabbed them multiple times with great results.....even the tires.  (Another professional I know had the FDA show up, and they swabbed every part of the fork lift you can imagine)

I'd eat sushi right off the forks of my trucks.   Yall better clean your fork trucks better!    Lol.....