Control limits for environmental testing on product contact surfaces?

Good morning all,

Does anyone know where I can find control limits for environmental testing on product contact surfaces?

I need to see cfu control limits for the following:

-Enterobacteriaceae

-Yeast and Mold

-Salmonella

-Listeria

-E.coli

Salmonella, E coli and Listeria should be zero on product contact surfaces with deviation procedures to reclean and retest

http://microgenbiopr...9.05.08-_9_.pdf

I'd give you CFIA's sampling plan, but their website is down right now

Thanks ever so much for your quick response Scampi.

I am currently using a Hydrated-Sponge with 10 mL Neutralizing Buffer.  All of my tests have come back negative except YEAST AND MOLD which is running between 40 cfu's and 240 cfu's.

The specification that I'm using is asking for less than 50cfu's.  I'm  trying to locate some kind of a specified control limit stating that <50 cfu's is correct.measurement to use. 

I could not find that in the pdf you were kind enough to attach

SOmetimes the browser wont' let attachments open, you could try switching to a different one

molds are challenging because they float around so a wide variance is normal............are air filters part of the sanitation program?

_{Very good question...  I'm going to look into that and get back to you.}

_{I do however sample compressed air every 6 months for yeast and mold and test results have always come back negative}

Good morning all,

Does anyone know where I can find control limits for environmental testing on product contact surfaces?

I need to see cfu control limits for the following:

-Enterobacteriaceae

afaik there are none.

 

 

-Yeast and Mold

afaik there are none.

 

-Salmonella

invariably "not detectable"

 

-Listeria

probably relates to product/process, eg FDA/USDA. Note that Listeria is not a pathogen per se.

 

-E.coli

afaik there are none (assuming generic E.coli)

(or did you mean pathogenic E.coli  in which case invariably "not detected")

Hi Linda,

^^^^, unless otherwise stated, I assumed you were referring to USA official limits (eg FDA/USDA) for any food / process

For some ideas, see -

http://www.ifsqn.com...ces/#entry60958

And many other threads on this forum

PS - for air see -

http://www.ifsqn.com...ent/#entry81054

(et al)

PPS - note that the numbers are meaningless unless referenced to a specific swabbed area or "item". Preferably, for example, as X cfu/cm²