“5.1 Personnel – Every person that comes in contact with raw materials, ingredients, packaging materials, in process and final product, equipment and utensils has to comply with, according to their activities and according to the sanitary risk…
5.1.1 …
5.1.2 …
5.1.3 …
5.1.4 The use of Face mask.”
Face masks! - A utensil for surgery is part of a requirement in the Mexican laws, for me this is totally ridiculous!!! I’m a food safety auditor and I have visited some food plants in this continent, but México it’s the only place where I have seen those masks.
And, in my experience, the consequences of the use of masks are undesirable. Imagine a person wearing that thing for 8 hours in an environment that is wet, cold (or hot), dusty, etc. after a few hours the mask is now full of condensed water, ingredients, saliva, mucus, and a lot of “etceteras”.
Although, the standard clearly states: “…according to the sanitary risk” it is common situation to observe the use of masks in bottling companies, confectionary plants, vinegar plants, canning facilities, fresh produce packing facilities, cheese and milk plants, etc. etc. it seems that no one assess the “sanitary risk”, and I think I know the reason:
The check list for the federal and state inspectors has a row with this question: “Are the use of face mask implemented?” Yes or Not. And when an inspector marks this question as a “NO”, the next day the plant manager of the inspected plant modify the internal GMP rules…
Again, for me this is ridiculous, what is your opinion? Have you see food plants using face masks before?