Seeking Advice on Swab Sampling Plan for Equipment & Personnel

Seeking advice on swabs samples collection for Equipment/Personnel hygiene verification as i need to change the micro sampling plan (we are involved in the maufacturing of chocolates,wafers,hard boiled candies & toffees)

which is more useful and value added sampling collection?

1.For equipment swabs - Online sampling(in between production process) or after cleaning & sanitation verification
2.For Personnel swabs - Online sampling (during the food handling time ) or after the hand wahing procedure

Hi Seville,

If the swab samples are taken for hygiene verification to know the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitation, then after C & S the sampling would be helpful. If you are validating the cleaning and sanitation procedures, then you would require both: before and after C & S.
regards,
Geethanjali

Seeking advice on swabs samples collection for Equipment/Personnel hygiene verification as i need to change the micro sampling plan (we are involved in the maufacturing of chocolates,wafers,hard boiled candies & toffees)

which is more useful and value added sampling collection?

1.For equipment swabs - Online sampling(in between production process) or after cleaning & sanitation verification
2.For Personnel swabs - Online sampling (during the food handling time ) or after the hand wahing procedure

Dear Seville,

The usefulness of swab sampling of food contact surfaces may well depend on the specific situation, eg the location / “hazard” (eg APC, L.mono, S.aureus, allergen) / process steps (eg RTE/non-RTE) involved.

Most commonly, swab sampling is used to verify cleaning / sanitising operations with respect to the overall environment and personnel. In such cases it is preferred to be implemented at a frequency depending on risk assessment, eg via zoning techniques. It is also recommended to initially establish a baseline for assessing subsequent swab results , eg by comparing data both before/after a considered “satisfactory” CS operation.

Swab sampling can also be used to evaluate an entire FSMS system since, for example, results of in-process swab sampling can demonstrate variations in operational hygiene control. Sampling (non-microbiological) may also assist in verifying “critical” cleaning aspects such as allergen control.

This detailed example of an integrated scheme illustrates some of the (microbial) possibilities –

 assessing microbial performance of FSMS system 2009.pdf   952.18KB   235 downloads

Rgds / Charles.C

Dear Geetanjali

Thanks for the info

Dear Charles

Many thanks for the info,defenitely this would help a lot

Thanks for the info+

Thanks for the info...