8 replies to this topic

[Cheese89]

Hello Folks,

 

I am seeking information regarding the availability of allergen testing kits that can detect the presence of coconut oil, modified potato starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, rowanberry extract, and carotene on equipment surfaces.

 

Our facility specializes in cheese production, with milk being the sole allergen of concern. We are planning to introduce vegan cheese cutting operations and would appreciate guidance on the necessary testing procedures following the cleaning of equipment.

 

Currently, we perform protein residue tests; however, we are uncertain if this approach is adequate to ensure the cleanliness of the surfaces prior to resuming our regular cheese cutting activities. Your expertise in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

[SQFconsultant]

For broad coverage I would suggest using Romer Labs

 

www.romerlabs.com

 

3M also has a good test for Coconut too.

 

Interestingly enough I just had a potential client tell me that a new customer they are trying to sign up is demanding TREE NUT testing because they don't want any presense of Coconut in their private label product.

 

I said, well thats fine, and you are aware that Coconuts are NOT Tree Nuts - he didn't and neither did his prospective customer.

 

Sensitivity to Coconut is so very rare, but some auditors sure do freak out about it.

[nwilson]

Coconut was removed from the allergenic "tree nut" list on the FDA/US side at the beginning of this year.  To my knowledge coconut is not considered a tree nut in CFIA terms either so not on the list.    The rest of the ingredients/sources mentioned are non-allergenic, so if you are looking for verification on cleanliness of surfaces a general protein test should do the trick.  Otherwise you can use a lab which is not as economical given the low risk nature of the process.  Just clean well enough that visually passes an inspection prior to your protein swabs.  

[SQFconsultant]

"Coconut was removed from the allergenic "tree nut" list on.. "

 

Dang I missed the FDA actually doing something of value for once - and now right before they get completely reorganized or eliminated.

[GMO]

Hello Folks,

 

I am seeking information regarding the availability of allergen testing kits that can detect the presence of coconut oil, modified potato starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, rowanberry extract, and carotene on equipment surfaces.

 

Our facility specializes in cheese production, with milk being the sole allergen of concern. We are planning to introduce vegan cheese cutting operations and would appreciate guidance on the necessary testing procedures following the cleaning of equipment.

 

Currently, we perform protein residue tests; however, we are uncertain if this approach is adequate to ensure the cleanliness of the surfaces prior to resuming our regular cheese cutting activities. Your expertise in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

Apart from the coconut no longer being a "nut" in US legislation, now matching the rest of the world... Are any of the rest allergens as specified by any country legislation?

 

But I think you're thinking about it the wrong way round.  You have a cheese production site at the moment and presumably milk is in everything so, while it's an allergen, short of missing it off a label, there's nothing really which can go wrong.  Once you introduce the vegan cheese, you will have a product which does not contain milk.

 

So to my mind you will need to do validation of your cleaning processes if you're intending to use the same machine.  That initial validation should be via ELISA on both swabs and product and then it would be a good idea to also do rapid swabs for milk when changing from cheese to vegan cheese stuff (sorry not a fan).

 

While many countries don't have "vegan" as meaning "free from milk", consumer  behaviour is that people who eat vegan food will assume it is free from the allergens which are also non vegan (i.e. milk, egg, fish etc etc.)  So even if you have a "may contain" or "processed in a factory which also processes milk" disclaimer on pack, I would still be inclined to try and run it as a free from style production.  Dedicated staff, cleaning verification which is above and beyond what you normally do and most of all really great control over your packaging.  

 

When f--- ups happen with allergens which leads to a recall?  It's almost always due to someone putting it in the wrong packaging (or the wrong label etc)

[chrisrushworth]

Apart from the coconut no longer being a "nut" in US legislation, now matching the rest of the world... Are any of the rest allergens as specified by any country legislation?

 

But I think you're thinking about it the wrong way round.  You have a cheese production site at the moment and presumably milk is in everything so, while it's an allergen, short of missing it off a label, there's nothing really which can go wrong.  Once you introduce the vegan cheese, you will have a product which does not contain milk.

 

So to my mind you will need to do validation of your cleaning processes if you're intending to use the same machine.  That initial validation should be via ELISA on both swabs and product and then it would be a good idea to also do rapid swabs for milk when changing from cheese to vegan cheese stuff (sorry not a fan).

 

While many countries don't have "vegan" as meaning "free from milk", consumer  behaviour is that people who eat vegan food will assume it is free from the allergens which are also non vegan (i.e. milk, egg, fish etc etc.)  So even if you have a "may contain" or "processed in a factory which also processes milk" disclaimer on pack, I would still be inclined to try and run it as a free from style production.  Dedicated staff, cleaning verification which is above and beyond what you normally do and most of all really great control over your packaging.  

 

When f--- ups happen with allergens which leads to a recall?  It's almost always due to someone putting it in the wrong packaging (or the wrong label etc)

 

I agree with the above, the tests should look for the milk proteins

 

https://www.neogen.c...-3d-total-milk/

 

Rapid tests link above..

 

We then have to do ELISA testing on M&E to determine vegan status on a monthly basis as part of our on going surveillance.

 

So many people miss the VALIDATION by Elisa step & struggle with auditors when challenged.

Whenever a chemical or cleaning process is changes, you have to re-validate and the verify with on going LFTs/Monthly external testing.

 

 

However.. there is NO legal term for VEGAN in the UK as of yet ... soo......

[GMO]

 

So many people miss the VALIDATION by Elisa step & struggle with auditors when challenged.

 

 

Agree.  Many years back I did a summary of every standard I could lay my hands on and came up with the following (it may have moved on, especially for implied "free from" production):

 

Test product with the allergen, in this case your regular cheese.

Swab key contact, difficult to clean places on the line (by risk assessment) - I'd choose a minimum of 3.  Swab before cleaning.

 

Do your clean.

 

Inspect the machine.  Record this inspection, ideally by photos.

Swab the machine in the same places you chose before.

Take the first three products off of your vegan production.

 

Test all for milk via ELISA (talk to the lab first, casein is probably the right protein to test for but isn't the only milk protein).  Keep everything on hold from your vegan run while you wait for your results.

 

Then design an ongoing verification process, this may be via rapid swabs.  Chris is right though, vegan can still mean "may contains" in the UK but the risk of consumer misuse is so high I suspect any product with milk presence in it labelled as vegan is high risk of consumer harm and probably most manufacturers would be subject to recall.  Meaning it's essentially "free from" with no legislation stating that.  

 

I would love you to have a separate packing machine though, especially if it's hard to clean.

[Scampi]

It's probably best to review this

https://inspection.c...nd-quality#s5c2

 

I'd be running my vegan products on the first shift of the first day of production and no other day (assuming you're not cleaning the packhouse daily)  You sanitation team then has plenty of time to ensure the equipment is free from dairy before you cut and pack vegan (or blend and form for that matter)

[GMO]

I agree with that.  If you have to use the same machine, first run of the day as long as your overnight cleaning is robust and well supervised.  

 

But as I said way back earlier on, also control your people and your packaging.  When something goes catastrophically wrong in a food factory with allergens, it's normally one of two things:

 

• they put the wrong product on the line
• they used the wrong packaging

 

And if you think about it, that's WAY higher risk than the cleaning being less than 100% effective.