3 replies to this topic

[MelbinBabu]

Why organizations do not test Salmonella on product contact surfaces in regular environmental monitoring plan?

[GMO]

Depends on the product and product risk. In many industries Listeria is more likely to be the pathogen of concern as a potential environmental contaminant.

[MelbinBabu]

I got the point, why pathogens are not tested in product contact areas? Product contact area will be limited to hygiene indicators in most case

[Tony-C]

Hi MelbinBabu,

 

Assuming that Salmonella is the pathogen of concern with your products, the answer is the principle behind environmental monitoring is that you detect pathogens in the environment before they contaminate the product contact surfaces or product. Also, as you are monitoring product contact surfaces using indicator organisms, the presence of Enteros would lead you to investigate further and swab for Salmonella which is part of the Enterobacteriaceae family.

 

Personally, I would check product contact surfaces as well until I had an established history of zero positives.

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony