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Extraneous matter in at a filter/strainer for milk processing

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ffkmm

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Posted 02 March 2018 - 05:44 PM

I am trying to understand the likelihood of whether a piece of plastic can get through a HTST and a homogenizer before entering a vat to make cheese.

I just need a little clarity if someone can give me some:

So we processed milk into cheese using a HTST system. Say we ran milk on Monday a strainer was checked and nothing was found prior to start-up. On the following day a strainer inspection took place and it was noted that a titration vial was found in the strainer and we continue to find pieces one more day (total of 2 days).  So if I understand our process correctly we pull milk from a silo which goes through a pump, check valve, a strainer, balance tank, into the HTST and homogenizer into a vat for cheese making. What is my likelihood that plastic got into my vat. It seem like 99% of the plastic vial was recovered and all product is on hold. How can I prove no plastic will be in our product?

 



Tony-C

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Posted 03 March 2018 - 04:24 AM

Hi ffkmm,
 
Please can you clarify, where is the strainer in the process?
 
Are there any more downstream strainers?
 
If as I am assuming this is before the HTST and homogenizer then there will not be any significant pieces of plastic as it will have been blocked or pulverized by the homogenizer.
 
If you know what the object is then you could weigh the pieces and compare with a whole one to determine how much plastic is missing.
 
Kind regards,
 
Tony

 



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ffkmm

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Posted 04 March 2018 - 02:19 AM

The strainer is located right before the balance tank. So raw milk is pulled from the silo, strainer and then balance tank.



ffkmm

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Posted 04 March 2018 - 02:20 AM

And no strainer is located up stream.



Tony-C

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Posted 04 March 2018 - 04:19 AM

I see, do you know what the object was and have an idenitcal one so you can see how much of it you have recovered?
 
Kind regards,
 
Tony


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ffkmm

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Posted 05 March 2018 - 05:08 PM

 

I see, do you know what the object was and have an idenitcal one so you can see how much of it you have recovered?
 
Kind regards,
 
Tony

 

Yes. We recovered about 62% of the is plastic valve with our check valve and strainer. Which is right before our balance. I guess my concern is whether or not I should be worry about the plastic being in our finally product after the HTST and homogenizer due to us not recovering 100%.



ffkmm

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Posted 05 March 2018 - 05:22 PM

And no strainer is located up stream.

No strainers are located upstream after the balance tank.



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Posted 05 March 2018 - 05:22 PM

if you cannot find 100% of the plastic then you must assume it IS in your finished product. Only recovering 62% means your missing 38%----seems like a mathematical equation for a mandated recall to me

 

You would have to do a risk analysis to be sure this is a risk your company is willing to make(where was the vial introduced, why wasn't it reported when it fell in, is the strainer intact, what size piece will it allow through etc etc


Please stop referring to me as Sir/sirs


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