Food Safety System Prerequisite Program PAS 223:2011 in Manufacture and Food Packaging
Friday, August 1, 2014
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| PAS 223:2011 |
Personal Hygiene in Food Preparation Areas: Key to Delivering a Safe Product
This PAS is intended to meet requirements for PRP's specified in ISO 22000:2005 and PAS is not a management system standard to be used as in isolation.
Basic Information about PAS 223:2011
The main contents are
- Scope
- Normative references
- Terms and definitions
- Establishments
- Layout and Work Space includes design
- Utilities includes water, air quality, compressed air and other gases, Lighting
- Waste includes drain and drainage
- Equipment suitability and maintenance
- Purchased materials and services
- Contamination and migration
- Cleaning include programs
- Pest control
- Personnel hygiene and facilities
- Rework include usage
- Withdrawal Procedures
- Storage and transport
- Food packaging information and consumer awareness
- Food defense, bio-vigilance and bio-terrorism (FSSC 22000 Guidance on PAS 223 Section 16 & 18)
- Food packaging design and development
- Specifications
- Process Validation
FDA in 2010: A Bumper year for Recalls-A Review of the Reportable Food Registry and FDA Recalls
Friday, December 9, 2011
The RFR was implemented in September 2009 as an “early warning system” with the goal of removing contaminated product from the market before illness occurs. The RFR requires that a company submit a report when there is a transfer of an FDA regulated food product outside the company and there is reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, an article of food will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. In the first year of the registry, 2,240 reports were received. Of those, 229 were primary industry or regulatory reports, 139 were amended reports and 1,872 were secondary upstream or downstream reports. Interestingly, one event was a major contributor to the overall number of reports submitted. The initial report of Salmonella in hydrolyzed vegetable protein led to 1,001 reports across 11 commodity categories by upstream and downstream facilities. In the end, 177 products were removed from commerce and no illnesses were reported. In addition to recalls, RFR entries triggered two import alerts, six import bulletins, and four field assignments.
As depicted in the Figure, the number of Class I food product recalls, a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death, increased dramatically in both 2009 and 2010 compared to previous years. In 2008, there were 351 Class I recalls, compared with 1,779 in 2009 and 1,499 in 2010. The increase is largely due to a small number of recalls that had a wide-reaching impact, including the 2009 recalls of peanut products and pistachios due to potential contamination with Salmonella and the 2010 recalls of hydrolyzed vegetable protein and shell eggs due to potential contamination with Salmonella.Contamination of shell eggs with Salmonella enteritidis resulted in 1,939 reported illnesses between May and November of 2010, impacted 94 different products and resulted in over 500,000,000 eggs being recalled.
The emergence of expansive product recalls has impacted the trends surrounding the reason for the majority of Class I recalls. In 2008, 144 recalls, or 41 percent of Class I recalls were due to the presence of undeclared allergens and 135 recalls, or 38 percent of recalls were due to Salmonella. In 2010, 1,013 recalls or 90 percent of the Class I recalls were due to potential contamination with Salmonella and 201 recalls, or 17 percent of total class I recalls were due to undeclared allergens. While the number of recalls due to allergens has not changed significantly over the past three years, allergens have gone from being responsible for over 40 percent of all recalls to fewer than 20 percent of all recalls as a result of the massive increase in recalls due to Salmonella.
2010 saw a significant increase in the number of class II recalls. Class II recalls are defined as “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” Interestingly, some products contaminated with Salmonella are classified as class II recalls according to the FDA weekly enforcement reports. For example, the October 20, 2010 Enforcement Report contains a class II recall of “pecan delights” and “milk chocolate pecan perk” products due to finished product testing positive for Salmonella. Some products implicated in the hydrolyzed vegetable protein recall were classified as class II while others were classified as class I. FDA’s criteria for classifying some Salmonella contaminations as a class II recall is not readily available and at first glance classifying Salmonella contaminated chocolate as class II appears to be an unusual decision. The rationale behind this is not obvious but it raises the question of whether this is a shift in FDA’s view of Salmonella contaminated products.
These massive recalls demonstrate the significant impact one contaminated ingredient can have on the entire food supply chain. Both the new reporting requirements under the RFR and new requirements for preventive controls under the new legislation will likely have a significant impact on what recall trends look like in upcoming years. There is an expectation in some that the new food safety legislation (the Food Safety Modernization Act) will reduce recalls. In reality it is probable that while 2009 and 2010 may be exceptions we will not see a reduction in recalls any time soon. Greater capacity to link foods with illness and the RFR will ensure that recalls will continue to stay at a high level, hopefully on a voluntary basis and not as part of the new mandatory recall authority.
Industry needs to review their ability to track ingredients to finished product to the consumer and trace back from product to ingredients. Beyond understanding the one-up, one-back requirements, there is an increased emphasis, both from FSIS and FDA on understanding one’s supply chain and ensuring that incoming product and ingredients are safe.
A critical message to the food industry is that as the supply chain increases in complexity and legislation places additional accountability on industry, it becomes increasingly more important for companies to manage their risk by knowing their suppliers. This strategy will help reduce the impacts of a recall and will allow firms to limit the extent of recalls to the greatest degree possible.
Author Credit Line: by David Acheson, Managing Director, Food and Import Safety Practice, at Leavitt Partners. Leavitt Partners advises clients that invest in health care and food safety. Through partnerships and global connections, Leavitt Partners is able to address your food safety and food defense problems wherever they may be in
Source: globalfoodsafetyresource.com
New Labelling Regulations in EU
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The new rules are supposed to provide more and better information to consumers so they can make informed choices when buying.
Under the new rules, the energy content and amounts of fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and salt must all be stated in a legible tabular form on the packaging, together and in the same field of vision. All this information has to be expressed per 100g or per 100ml. It may also, in addition, be expressed per portion.
Currently all ingredients - including allergenic substances - must be indicated on the labels of pre-packed foods. In future it will be easier for consumers to see if a product contains allergenic substances, as they will have to be highlighted in the ingredient list. Shoppers will thus be able to see information on allergens at a glance.
The new rules also state that information on allergens must be given for non-packaged foods, for example on food sold in restaurants or canteens. Member States may themselves decide how the information is to be made available to consumers.
Under existing EU rules, the origin of certain foods - such as beef, honey, olive oil and fresh fruit and vegetables - already has to be shown on the label. This also applies where the failure to do so would mislead the consumer. This rule will now be extended to fresh meat from pigs, sheep, goat and poultry, at Parliament's request. The Commission will have to introduce implementing rules for this purpose within two years of the regulation's entry into force.
Country of origin labeling could in future be extended to other categories of food (such as meat when used as an ingredient, milk or unprocessed foods) but the Commission must first do impact assessments to weigh up the feasibility and potential costs of doing this.
The new rules will also ensure that consumers are not misled by the appearance, description or pictorial presentation of food packaging.
In addition, it will be easy to spot "imitation foods" - foods that look similar to other foods but are made of different ingredients, such as "cheese-like" foods made with vegetable products. Where an ingredient that would normally be expected has been replaced, this will have to be clearly stated on the front of the pack in a prominent font size and next to the brand name.
Meat consisting of combined meat parts must be labelled "formed meat". The same will apply to "formed fish".
Parliament adopted Renate Sommer's report by 606 votes to 46, with 26 abstentions. Once the legislation is published in the EU Official Journal, food companies will have three years to adapt to most of the rules, but five years for the rules on nutrition values.
Source:More Information on Labelling Requlations
Norwegian Food Safety Authority confirms labeling of allergens
Monday, March 21, 2011
Norwegian Food Safety Authority will conduct a national audit project on allergen labeling. The purpose of the project is ensuring consumers’ confidence relying on the label and on this basis to make safe food choices. Proper labeling of allergenic ingredients is crucial for allergy sufferers’ health.
The FSA will concentrate on the following:
* Proper labeling of allergenic ingredients, including product reviews.
* Risk assessment conducted with a possible use of a warning label such as "may contain traces of".
* Procedures for dealing with possible sources of contamination with allergens, including procedures and cleanliness of premises and equipment.
* Procedures to pre-evaluate their suppliers, and products they want to import, with respect to allergens.
* Compliance with the organization's own procedures.
The audit will be carried out at all stages of production, as well as it will include imported foodstuffs. It is important for preventing errors - both in the labeling of allergenic ingredients and the possible contamination with allergens.
Food Safety Authority will audit the following product categories:
* Prepared and semi-finished products (bag of soup, sauce bases, casseroles, etc.).
* Breakfast cereals
* Baking Mix (bread, pancakes / waffles, cakes)
* Cakes, biscuits and fried bread
* Sweets and snacks
* Desserts (ice cream, puddings, jellies, etc.)
The project will be concluded in September of 2011. Report with results of the project is expected to be completed during January 2012.
Food Safety Team
Food Safety Alerts, 12-19 March, 2011
GERMANY, different sorts of beer and tablewater from Germany have been recalled from consumers due to content of soda lye. Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. RASFF notification No 2011.0371 has been published on 18/03/2011.
ITALY, noodles from China have been recalled from consumers due to illegal import (containing swine DNA). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification No 2011.0347 has been published on 16/03/2011.
FINLAND, vermicelli - mung bean product from the Philippines has been recalled from consumers due to high content of aluminium (105 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification No 2011.0355 has been published on 18/03/2011.
FRANCE, peanut crisps from China have been withdrawn from the market due to improper health certificate(s). Authorities were alerted following a border rejection. RASFF notification No 2011.APG has been published on 16/03/2011.
BELGIUM, GERMANY, NORWAY, oysters from the Netherlands have been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of norovirus (Genogroup I and II). Authorities were alerted following a food poisoning. RASFF notification No 2011.0325 has been published on 14/03/2011.
BULGARIA, chilled Japanese mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and chilled scad (Trachurus trachurus) from Greece and Spain have been withdrawn from the market due to parasitic infestation with Anisakis (50; 50). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification No 2011.0362 has been published on 18/03/2011.
SLOVENIA, dried apricots from Italy have been withdrawn from the market due to content of sulphite. Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. RASFF notification No 2011.0328 has been published on 14/03/2011.
UNITED KINGDOM, fresh apples from Canada and the United States have been withdrawn from the market due to content of unauthorised substance morpholine (0.05; 0.08; 0.16; 0.25; 1.4 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. RASFF notification No 2011.0331 has been published on 14/03/2011.
GERMANY, BULGARIA, PORTUGAL, canned green organic lentils from Turkey have been withdrawn from the market due to content of glyphosate (0.79 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. RASFF notification No 2011.0334 has been published on 15/03/2011.
DENMARK, SWEDEN, bottled organic strained tomatoes from Italy have been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of glass fragments. Authorities were alerted following a consumer complaint. RASFF notification No 2011.0338 has been published on 15/03/2011.
FRANCE, SPAIN, cucumbers from Spain have been withdrawn from the market due to content of unauthorised substance dichlorvos (0.11 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification No 2011.0345 has been published on 16/03/2011.
DENMARK, tenderloin (pork) from Spain has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of Salmonella (presence /25g). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification No 2011.0365 has been published on 18/03/2011.
GERMANY, grape juice from Austria has been withdrawn from the market due to abnormal smell (chlorine). Authorities were alerted following a consumer complaint. RASFF notification No 2011.0369 has been published on 18/03/2011.
DENMARK, frozen whole hens without giblets from France Austria have been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of Salmonella (presence /25g). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification No 2011.0358 has been published on 18/03/2011.
Food Contact Materials
HUNGARY, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA, AUSTRIA, GERMANY, CZECH REPUBLIC, melamine cups from China have been recalled from consumers due to migration of formaldehyde (5.0 mg/dm²). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification No 2011.0326 has been published on 14/03/2011.
DENMARK, wok pans from China have been withdrawn from the market due to inner coating peeling off. Authorities were alerted following a consumer complaint. RASFF notification No 2011.0354 has been published on 17/03/2011.
Food Safety Team
Source: Portal RASFF
Food Safety Alerts, 1-6 March,2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
AUSTRIA, pretzel stick from Germany has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of foreign body. Authorities were alerted following a consumer complaint. The RASFF notification No 2011.0269 has been published on 28/02/2011.
GERMANY, rice noodles from China has been withdrawn from the market as unauthorised genetically modified (Bt63). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0280 has been published on 02/03/2011.
UNITED KINGDOM, dried noodles from China has been withdrawn from the market due to high content of aluminium (14 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following a border rejection. The RASFF notification No 2011.AMP has been published on 04/03/2011.
ITALY, chocolate bar with peanuts puffed rice and caramel from the Netherlands has been recalled from consumers due to foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by. Authorities were alerted following a food poisoning. The RASFF notification No 2011.0279 has been published on 02/03/2011.
ITALY, chilled anglerfish (Lophius spp) from France has been withdrawn from the market due to parasitic infestation with Anisakis. Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. The RASFF notification No 2011.0282 has been published on 02/03/2011.
LATVIA, LITHUANIA, frozen hake (Merluccius merluccius) from Spain has been withdrawn from the market due to parasitic infestation with Anisakis (10-12 dead larvae in each fish). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0283 has been published on 02/03/2011.
FINLAND, fresh lychees from Madagascar have been withdrawn from the market due to too high content of sulphite (15 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification 2011.0273 has been published on 01/03/2011.
GERMANY, raisins from Turkey have been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of ochratoxin A (20.5 µg/kg - ppb). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification 2011.0284 has been published on 02/03/2011.
BELGIUM, FRANCE, condensed milk from Germany has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of plastic fragments. Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. The RASFF notification 2011.0290 has been published on 04/03/2011.
Dietetic Foods, Food Supplements, Fortified Foods
ITALY, Libid Bull (food supplement) from Slovakia has been withdrawn from the market due to content of unauthorised substance tadalafil (49.2 mg). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0271 has been published on 28/02/2011.
HUNGARY, food supplement from China has been withdrawn from the market due to content of unauthorised substance sildenafil (per capsule: 104.7 mg). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0275 has been published on 01/03/2011.
FINLAND, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, green clay powder and green clay capsules from Germany, with raw material from France have been recalled from consumer due to contamination of dioxins (7.1 ng/kg - ppt) and lead (14.8 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0286 has been published on 03/03/2011.
BELGIUM, food supplement from France have been recalled from consumer due to content of unauthorised novel food ingredient Hoodia gordonii. Authorities were alerted following a consumer complaint. The RASFF notification No 2011.0289 has been published on 04/03/2011.
Food Contact Materials
UNITED KINGDOM, lid of jars containing chredded mango chutney from India has been withdrawn from the market due to high content of DBP - dibutyl phthalate (1.66 %) and of DEHP - di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (9.26 %). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0264 has been published on 28/02/2011.
UNITED KINGDOM, lid of jars containing lime pickle hot from India has been withdrawn from the market due to high content of DBP - dibutyl phthalate (1.33 %) and of DEHP - di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (3.9 %). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0265 has been published on 28/02/2011.
UNITED KINGDOM, lid of jars containing mixed pickle from India has been withdrawn from the market due to high content of DEHP - di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (12.3 %). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0266 has been published on 28/02/2011.
CYPRUS, dinner plates from China have been withdrawn from the market due to migration of lead (4.78 mg/dm²). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No 2011.0267 has been published on 28/02/2011.
Food Safety Team
Source: Portal RASFF
Food Safety Alerts Europe 23-28 Feb, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
UNITED STATES, AUSTRIA, RUSSIAN FEDERATION, NORWAY, LATVIA, ITALY, ISRAEL, IRELAND, UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, FINLAND, DENMARK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, SWEDEN, bottled beer from the United Kingdom has been recalled from consumers due to contamination of glass fragments. Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. RASFF notification number 2011.0236 was published on 21/02/2011
ITALY, frozen whole cleaned baby cuttlefish (Sepiella japonica) from Vietnam has been recalled from consumers due to unauthorised irradiation. Authorities were alerted following a border control. RASFF notification number 2011.0231 was published on 21/02/2011
GIBRALTAR, UNITED KINGDOM, double chocolate cupcake mix from the United Kingdom has been recalled from consumers due to insufficient labelling. Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0225 was published on 21/02/2011
ROMANIA, rice from Syria has been recalled from consumers due to absence of labelling. Authorities were alerted following a border rejection. RASFF notification number 2011.ALK was published on 24/02/2011
BULGARIA, tomatoes from Jordan have been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of procymidone (0.114 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0227 was published on 21/02/2011
CZECH REPUBLIC, pineapple pieces in light syrup from China have been withdrawn from the market due to unsuitable organoleptic characteristics. Authorities were alerted following a consumer complaint. RASFF notification number 2011.0228 was published on 21/02/2011
UNITED KINGDOM, taro (Colocasia esculenta) from Brazil has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of carbendazim (1.8 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0250 was published on 21/02/2011
DENMARK, pork meat from Spain Syria has been recalled from consumers due to contamination of Salmonella (4,5,12:I - 1 out of 12 samples /25g) and Salmonella Rissen (1 out of 12 samples /25g). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0230 was published on 21/02/2011
FRANCE, frozen minced beef steaks from Ireland have been recalled from consumers due to contamination of Escherichia coli O26 ( O26:H 11 - STX1 positive- EAE positive). Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. RASFF notification number 2011.0246 was published on 23/02/2011
ITALY, frozen wild turkey half breast from Brazil has been recalled from consumers due to contamination of Salmonella Bradford. Authorities were alerted following a border rejection. RASFF notification number 2011.ALJ was published on 24/02/2011
IRELAND, UNITED KINGDOM, pies from the United Kingdom have been recalled from consumers due to contamination of metal fragments in mashed potatoes used in pies. Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0238 was published on 22/02/2011
Food Contact Materials
SLOVENIA, ITALY, knife set from China has been withdrawn from the market due to migration of chromium (1.86; 1.03 mg/l). Authorities were alerted following a border control. RASFF notification number 2011.0232 was published on 21/02/2011
Food Safety Team
Source: RASFF
Food Safety Alerts Europe 16-22 Feb, 2011
FRANCE, UNITED KINGDOM, SPAIN, GERMANY, BELGIUM, AUSTRIA, NETHERLANDS, rice vermicelli from China has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of metal wires. Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0201 was published on 16/02/2011. We have already published the notification.
GHANA, GEORGIA, GERMANY, oatmeal from Germany, with raw material from Sweden has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of deoxynivalenol (DON) (1480 µg/kg - ppb). Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. RASFF notification number 2011.0186 was published on 14/02/2011.
UNITED KINGDOM, black tiger prawns from India have been recalled from consumers due to contamination of prohibited substance nitrofuran (metabolite) furazolidone (AOZ) (45 µg/kg - ppb). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0194 was published on 16/02/2011.
GERMANY, palm sugar from Thailand has been withdrawn from the market due to content of unauthorised E 210 - benzoic acid. Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0183 was published on 14/02/2011.
FRANCE, BELGIUM, frozen minced spinach from Belgium India has been recalled from consumers due to contamination of traces of diesel oil. Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. RASFF notification number 2011.0192 was published on 15/02/2011.
LUXEMBOURG, potatoes from the Netherlands have been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of fluazinam (0.65 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. RASFF notification number 2011.0199 was published on 16/02/2011.
FINLAND, frozen cooked minced beef from Brazil has been withdrawn from the market due to content of unauthorised ivermectin (12; 20; 21; 14; 4 µg/kg - ppb). Authorities were alerted following a border rejection. RASFF notification number 2011.AIN was published on 14/02/2011.
Source: RASFF
UK Food Safety Survey Results
Friday, February 25, 2011
he main food safety issues that concern consumers in Great Britain include food hygiene when eating out, food poisoning and the use of additives in food, according to a new survey.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) latest consumer tracker survey showed 36% of those surveyed were concerned about food hygiene when eating out, while 29% were concerned about food poisoning and 27% worried about the use of additives in food.
The survey covered four main areas: awareness of the FSA and its responsibilities, trust in the FSA, food-related concerns and awareness of hygiene standards in eating establishments. The key food issues that consumers were concerned with were; food prices (54%), the amount of salt in food (45%) and food waste (42%).
Eighty percent of respondents were aware of the hygiene standards in the places they eat out in or buy food from. The main way people judged the hygiene standards were from the general appearance of the premises (65%), appearance of staff (51%) and its reputation (42%). The survey interviewed 2,105 adults in the UK. The survey has monitored UK consumer attitudes since 2001.
Personal Hygiene in Food Preparation Areas: Key to Delivering a Safe Product
Good personal hygiene is a basic requirement for implementing a strong food safety program. All foodservice employees must follow Standard Operating Procedures for personal hygiene that comply with the Food Code and that are customized for their work area. Despite this fact, it is interesting to note that research conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows that poor personal hygiene practices can be seen in retail foodservice establishments, which includes elementary schools, hospitals, nursing homes and restaurants.
So, how do you best approach this subject without alienating a potential employee or making existing employees feel that their identity, personal life and presence is affected in a negative manner? This is the fun part! First, it is all about education. The WHY is what seems to make the most difference to the younger generations who put much value into their appearance. It is smart to begin talking about the importance of personal hygiene as soon as a potential employee is interviewed and subsequently hired. Explain that the requirements are a part of the job that they are applying for and that as a foodservice worker, they must pay close attention to personal hygiene. Policies on personal hygiene should be reviewed with employees and posted as reminders.
Brochures with photos are useful as these can provide actual pictures of DOs and DON’Ts. Be creative and take actual photos of employees working for your company and in environments to which the staff members can relate. Be colorful and be sure to get smiles from your models so that they emulate a positive attitude about this important subject.
More importantly, the employees need to understand the great privilege it is to feed families. If this is the focus, it seems to be less about appearance and more about delivering a safe and fresh product to the customer. If you speak to average customers, it is very interesting to note that they view a safe, clean department as one that has employees working with visible hairnets, gloves and no fancy jewelry that could end up in their food. They are not looking for beauty or a celebrity-type appearance! They are concentrating on providing a good meal to their families and trust you to deliver.
Provide your employees with options for proper hairnets, beard nets and gloves so that they are easy to order and easy to access. Sometimes too many options can be a deterrent to compliance as the choices can get confusing and cause negligence.
Some key communication points to an employee working in a food preparation area are the following:
• Workers who have a cold, the flu or another communicable illness should inform their supervisor and not handle food.
• Report to work in good health, clean and dressed in clean attire.
• Change apron when it becomes soiled.
• Wash hands properly, frequently and at the appropriate times.
• Keep fingernails trimmed, filed and maintained.
• Avoid wearing artificial fingernails or fingernail polish.
• Wear single-use gloves if artificial fingernails or fingernail polish are worn.
• Do not wear any jewelry except for a plain ring with no stones, such as a wedding band.
• Treat and bandage wounds and sores immediately. When hands are bandaged, wear single-use gloves to cover the bandage.
• Cover any lesion containing pus with a bandage. If the lesion is on a hand or wrist, cover with an impermeable cover, such as a finger cot or stall, and a single-use glove.
• Keep clean by bathing daily, using deodorant and washing hair regularly.
• Keep hair under control by wearing a hair restraint.
• Eat, drink, use tobacco or chew gum only in designated break areas where food or food-contact surfaces may not become contaminated.
• Wear clean clothing/uniform and/or apron.
• Wear suitable and effective hair restraints while in the kitchen.
• Avoid wearing jewelry, which can harbor bacteria and cause a physical hazard if parts fall into the food. Jewelry can also pose a personal safety hazard if it is caught in the equipment.
• Keep fingernails clean, unpolished and trimmed short.
• Wear a bandage and plastic gloves if you have open cuts or sores. In some cases, employees should perform other non-food-related tasks until the wound heals.
• Do not chew gum while on duty.
• Do not smoke cigarettes while performing any aspect of food preparation.
• Avoid unguarded coughing or sneezing. Wash hands after coughing or sneezing.
• Wash hands thoroughly
• before starting work
• during food preparation as often as necessary to prevent cross-contamination when changing tasks and when changing from handling raw foods to cooked foods
• after coughing; sneezing; using a handkerchief or tissue; eating; drinking; smoking; handling raw meats, poultry and fish and garbage; sweeping; picking up items from the floor
• after using chemicals and cleaners,
• after using the toilet, handling soiled equipment and utensils
• and after switching between raw foods and ready-to-eat foods
Hand Washing Guidelines
• Use water as hot as can be comfortably tolerated.
• Moisten hands and add soap. Lather to the elbow if possible. • Scrub thoroughly.
• Wash all surfaces, including backs of hands, wrists, between fingers and under fingernails.
• Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse thoroughly under running water.
• Dry hands thoroughly with a paper towel or hot air dryer.
• Don’t touch anything that will re-contaminate your hands. Use a paper towel to turn off the water faucet and open the restroom door if necessary.
Following such good personal hygiene procedures will help to ensure a strong food safety program in any foodservice organization. All it takes is communication! Education, creativity and pride in one’s job are key aspects to achieving this important goal.
Food Safety Magazine can give you more Information.
Food Safety Alerts Europe 1-15 Feb, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
GERMANY, BELARUS, sea food cocktail from Vietnam has been recalled from consumers due to content of unauthorised irradiation (glow ratio > 0.5). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0151 has been published released on 08/02/2011.
CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVENIA, LUXEMBOURG, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, spirelli semolina from Germany, manufactured in Italy has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of deoxynivalenol (DON) (800; 935; 194; 172 µg/kg - ppb). Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0149 has been published released on 08/02/2011.
POLAND, light crispbread from Poland has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of ochratoxin A (13 µg/kg - ppb). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0152 has been published released on 08/02/2011.
LUXEMBOURG, FRANCE, basmati rice from Belgium has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of unauthorised substance isoprothiolane (0.045 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0154 and 2011.0155 has been published released on 08/02/2011.
UNITED KINGDOM, classic sugar coated fennel from Pakistan has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of unauthorised colour Rhodamine B. Authorities were alerted following a border rejection. The RASFF notification No. 2011.AGT has been published released on 07/02/2011.
POLAND, canned tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) from Thailand has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of histamine (between 53.71 and 179.01 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following a border rejection. The RASFF notification No. 2011.AHT has been published released on 10/02/2011.
GERMANY, dried apples from Chile have been recalled from consumers due to content of unauthorised substance morpholine (1.2-1.5 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0147 has been published released on 07/02/2011.
ICELAND, smoothie from China has been recalled from consumers due to contamination of metal strips. Authorities were alerted following a consumer complaint. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0153 has been published released on 07/02/2011.
DENMARK, pickled garlic from Thailand has been withdrawn from the market due to undeclared sulphite. Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0158 has been published released on 09/02/2011.
SPAIN, chilled beans from Morocco have been withdrawn from the market due to mold infestation. Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No. 2011.AIA has been published released on 10/02/2011.
FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG, BELGIUM, minced turkey meat from France has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of Salmonella spp. (in 4 out of 5 samples /10g). Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0146 has been published released on 07/02/2011.
FRANCE, GERMANY, turkey kebab and turkey/chicken kebab from Germany has been withdrawn from the market due to contamination of Salmonella spp. (presence /25g). Authorities were alerted following a company's own check. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0166 has been published released on 10/02/2011.
Food Contact Materials
UNITED KINGDOM, slotted spoons from China have been recalled from consumers due to migration of primary aromatic amines (4 µg/dm²). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0150 has been published released on 08/02/2011.
POLAND, salad bowl from Hong Kong has been withdrawn from the market due too high level of total migration (269.5 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following an official control on the market. The RASFF notification No. 2011.0160 has been published released on 08/02/2011.
ITALY, stainless steel kitchenware from China has been withdrawn from the market due to migration of chromium (23.0 mg/kg - ppm). Authorities were alerted following a border rejectionThe RASFF notification No. 2011.AHA has been published released on 08/02/2011.
Food Safety Team
Source: RASFF
