Food safety concerns related to paint & mechanical manufacturing

Hi!

Our totally export oriented food-manufacturing unit is going to start in 4~6 months, and i have the task for preparing the draft of master plan and gap analysis. While identifying the in-depth requirements, i need to know what methods shoud be (where requirements are left open by international authorities like FDA, EU etc.) or shall be (where requirement are imposed) applied to fulfill following requirements.



1- Walls and ceilings should be washable. (If they required food grade paint? whether non-food grade paints are safe for walls and ceiling where they are not usually in contact with food? Do somebody from Pakistan have experties regarding adequate paints selection?).

2- While doing mechanical manufacturing steps (such as trimming, cutting, mashing, shredding etc.) protect food against contamination that may drip, drain or be drawn into food. ( What type of surface(s) should i use while trimming, cutting and chopping the large pieces of meat. It is a normal practice in our country that meat is cut and chop on wooden-blocks through a chopper. Since there are great chances of introducing contamination while processing meat over wooden block - do some body recommend the alternates of wooden blocks.)

3- Wood is not allowed in tools even for the handles of tools (EU). (Did i understand it correctly that even the handle of knife and a shredder shall not be of wood? Whether plastic of any grade is ok?)



I will be grateful if some body (or bodies) will extract his/her time to give me solutions of any of above problems.

I have some more questions to ask but i afraid that whoever read this long query will probably run away leaving the screen.

Regards!

Zeeshan
(Pakistan)

Hello Zeeshan,

I am not an expert about food industry in Pakistan, I just want to help you - if it's possible!

So concerning the first point, some plastic panels exist; those 'walls' allows you to wash your factory without being annoyed by a bad quality of paint.

2/ 3 - Wood isn't allowed for the handles of tools, I agree : it's much more difficult to have a good cleaning with wood handles than plastic handles, and you can lose some little pieces of wood in your product (as 'foreign bodies'). But if you are able to demonstrate the process to clean your tools is right, I think it's ok. For example in France, wooden blocks for meat are not forbidden if you prove you have a (very) good cleaning, even though vets and food inspectors prefer plastic blocks. Suppliers for food industry will provide adequates tools to work in good manufacturing practices.

Last : I think you're totally right to ask these questions, it will be easier to get good practices with good requirements.

That's all for me,

Don't hesitate if you have further questions,

Regards,

Emmanuel.

Dear Zeeshan,

Happy to help but since I also don’t know what’s available in Pakistan, very short comment first.

1.There is a thread on food grade paints in this forum. Like Penard, a lot of people use prefabricated systems I think. I realise cost factors may be involved.

2 and3. Tables, work surfaces etc – food grade stainless steel. Cutting etc – if you use wood anywhere, I’m afraid many (all?) auditors will immediately fault you (but not in France apparently ). (Some exceptions where choices not in direct food contact like pallets, plastic is again preferred but usuallly very expensive).

(4) Plastic options are usable for conveyors etc if you don’t like S.steel, have to be food compatible- there are standard products commercialy available, depending on temperatures also maybe.

(5) You didn’t mention floors. This is often very important, especially if you make a wrong choice. Epoxy based systems are popular, there are many specially developed, hard-wearing systems (at a price).

To echo Emmanuel, If you have any specific queries, don’t hesitate to revert.

Rgds / Charles.C

added - there is a lot of IT info. on the subject of hygienic factory construction, for example the Canadian cfia website, (try googling haccp Canada)

Dear Emmanuel,

Thanks for your reply. It works great.

Regards.

Zeeshan.

Dear Charles! Dear & Emmanuel !

I'm really grateful to both of you for clearing many doubtful concepts of mine. I will search reagrding this topic on net soon inshallah. I feel good to have honorary members like you in my food safety team.

Regards.

Zeeshan.

Thanks Zeeshan!

Emmanuel.