Does everybody within the SQF system use only the black pens?

Hello all, I  am new to the SQF system and recently finished my SQF practitioner training. I am little confused as the training talks about using only Black pens in the form documentation. Does every body within the SQF system use only the black pens? I have always used blue or  black pens when working for the BRC certified plants and it was never an issue. Please share your experience with this requirement. Thank you. -Sam

I have always used blue or black ink pens for all controlled, completed SQF documents.  Never heard of a strict black ink requirement.  

That would be a new rewuirementvthat i am not familiar with. In SQF work for the past 14 years we have always used blue or black.

I've had customer auditors recommend I use only black ink when completing documents. But this is my first time hearing that it was somehow tied to any standard.

I'm guessing the SQF trainer didn't happen to cite the SQF Standard that goes along with it?

Honestly, it starts to sound ridiculous: is it really that important to food safety what ink color is used to sign documents? What would be next - size of buttons on uniform, length of haircut, color of lipstick? 

I think that it is important to use non-smearing, no smudge pens, to secure records against water and alcohol that may be present at the plant.

Honestly, it starts to sound ridiculous: is it really that important to food safety what ink color is used to sign documents? What would be next - size of buttons on uniform, length of haircut, color of lipstick? 

Hot pink, or black lipstick only!

Hot pink, or black lipstick only!

Those're your favorite? Sounds like Goth, eh?

Hot pink, or black lipstick only!

Come on Tim, you'd look great in red too!  LOL.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Come on Tim, you'd look great in red too!  LOL.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Oh boy, MDaleDDF, I really like your sense of humor! (I'm waiting for the moderator to kick us off this thread to have fun somewhere else  )

When I was in the medical world 5 or so years ago - black was only allowed. Another possible reason - color blind people. In a college class, the professor could only use black because the other colors were too difficult to read on a white board for the color blind person.

Hello all,

 I  am new to the SQF system and recently finished my SQF practitioner training. I am little confused as the training talks about using only Black pens in the form documentation.

 

 Does every body within the SQF system use only the black pens? I have always used blue or  black pens when working for the BRC certified plants and it was never an issue.

 

Please share your experience with this requirement.

 

Thank you.

-Sam

IMEX there is one other. possible, simple, explanation - Compare your photocopy quality for black and blue originals.

Just as an aside, since the question has already been marked as answered.

We are taking on a new customer and their supplier expectations manual specifically states that all manually filled in records be done in black ink.

You do what the customer wants, I guess.

Marshall

IMEX there is one other. possible, simple, explanation - Compare your photocopy quality for black and blue originals.

This is one of the reasons I prefer blue ink. Before the days of color photocopies it was a surefire way to identify whether it was an original or a copy.

This is one of the reasons I prefer blue ink. Before the days of color photocopies it was a surefire way to identify whether it was an original or a copy.

Unfortunately, IMEX, it can also be a good way to receive unreadable, requested, copies.