Do we need "wash before use" on the label of dried peppers?

Hi everyone,

We repack dried peppers (mexican chilis), now they do have a bit of dirt and potential physical matter, do we have to say "wash before using" on the label? I would think its common sense since we still do it for fruits & veggies? Is it a requirement? My fear is not microbiological, its more of a physical.

Hi everyone,

 

We repack dried peppers (mexican chilis), now they do have a bit of dirt and potential physical matter, do we have to say "wash before using" on the label? I would think its common sense since we still do it for fruits & veggies? Is it a requirement? My fear is not microbiological, its more of a physical.

Is it washed by the supplier ?

RTE ?

Specification, eg % Foreign material ? Pathogens ?

How can you wash a dried pepper (sorry if I'm being stupid here)?  Would the washing process not rehydrate it?  Wouldn't some consumers just crumble them and use?  Why not try and remove the contaminants by working with your supply chain before drying?

How are they packaged?

Is it washed by the supplier ?

 

RTE ?

 

Specification, eg % Foreign material ? Pathogens ?

Not washed by the supplier. I also saw how they do it, it doesnt get washed. Just picked up and dried and sold. 

It's RTE but usually its cooked into broths, sauces....etc

No specs for foreign matter and for pathogens must be free of pathogens. except for e.coli, coli <10 cfu/g

How can you wash a dried pepper (sorry if I'm being stupid here)?  Would the washing process not rehydrate it?  Wouldn't some consumers just crumble them and use?  Why not try and remove the contaminants by working with your supply chain before drying?

I am not really a user of such peppers but our plant manager was like should we include that on the label because usually it comes with dirt. and no washing it will not really rehydrate it. Also it is likely that they crumble them but for the most part they add these peppers in soups, sauces...etc. Also we don't dry them, we receive them dried.

How are they packaged?

They come in bulk and we just pack them into smaller bags. That's it.

I've never seen these peppers shipped without the harvester washing them first, not "these days" anyway.

I do have a grower/harvester client that picks them, and prior to the drying process they are washed and sanitized and are then sun dried.

You should be able to get then "clean" from the grower/packer.

Wash Before Using - that I have seen on dried pepper packages.

I've never seen these peppers shipped without the harvester washing them first, not "these days" anyway.

 

I do have a grower/harvester client that picks them, and prior to the drying process they are washed and sanitized and are then sun dried.

 

You should be able to get then "clean" from the grower/packer.

 

Wash Before Using - that I have seen on dried pepper packages.

IIRC "Wash before Using" became a popular advice after various pathogen incidents relating to RTE fresh produce. But this was then followed by a Validatory debate.

Post 5 implies that operationally more likely NRTE .

I'm surprised no complaints over debris ? Maybe unwashed/"as is"  is a standard "specification"  for this product's intended market ?

I would find a wash instruction before use on dried peppers or chillis very odd advice personally.