What Foreign Material is in Your Food?

Two recent recalls were initiated because of customer complaints about foreign material in their products.

The first was discovered in 8oz Pantry Beef Sticks manufactured by the Klement Sausage Co. in Wisconsin. In this case the customers identified hard plastic or glass in the product.

The second was found in 14oz and 28oz packages of assorted flavor Megapops. In this case the recall noted traces of foreign particles.

One of the requirements in food manufacturing is to have a glass and hard plastic pre-requisite program that leads into your HACCP program.

In this plan, Quality Assurance and Production should ensure that there is no glass in the open product or processing areas and if there is hard plastic, that an operational check is made every day to ensure that plastic has not broken off and possibly gotten into the product.

In the case of the sausage operation, there is often hard plastic near chopper bowls, mixers, and possibly augers.  These should be inspected after daily sanitation is complete to ensure that no chipping or wearing is occurring. If wear is noted, then that piece should be replaced and Quality Assurance notified to identify any products which might contain the foreign material. Daily inspection of operational equipment must be performed by production employees and maintenance employees.

Complete facility glass and plastic inspections should be part of a regular program for Quality inspections. These should be no less than quarterly, but would be better on the monthly in depth Quality inspection.

No exposed glass should be in a product area, with the exception of glass bottles that are the retail package. 

When we let customers become our Quality and Food Safety Inspection program, we in the food business have neglected our responsibility.  An effective program that stops defective products from ever leaving your facility can and must be achieved. Protect your customers and your company.

Be safe out there.
Rudy Westervelt
rudy@powerinlearning.com