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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS 08/12/2020
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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS: Allergen Management

Welcome to our Environmental Monitoring for BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS) series. Download our free guide today. Allergen management takes place at multiple points in production, starting with a raw material assessment, then production line and personnel cross contamination then through to end-product testing. BRCGS 5.3 concerns allergen management and the systems in place to manage the allergenic materials and minimise the risk of contamination, with clause 5.3.8 specifically addressing allergen cleaning regimes. As legislation requires that the presence of food allergens to be clearly labelled on the... Read More

30/11/2020
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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS: Microorganism Indicator and Spoilage Organism Testing

Welcome to our Environmental Monitoring for BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS) series. Download our free guide today. By taking a proactive approach to microorganism testing companies can mitigate problems before they arise. BRCGS clause 4.11.8 identifies requirements for incorporating testing into an environmental monitoring program allows for continual assessment of cleaning protocols at a microbial level. Effective programs can be used to prevent contamination by acting as an early warning before they affect products. Sampling and testing will differ from site to site depending on the risks assessed... Read More

24/11/2020
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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS: ATP Hygiene Monitoring and Verification

Welcome to our Environmental Monitoring for BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS) series. Download our free guide today. Residue from production which remains on a surface after poor cleaning can encourage microorganism growth which leads to spoilage, risk of food poisoning and shelf life reduction. ATP monitoring is ideal for use and an early risk indicator for inadequate removal of organic residue. As an established method of testing hygiene, it is used widely as a verification method for hygiene cleaning, but it cannot be used as a replacement for... Read More

09/11/2020
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Environmental Monitoring for BRCGS: How robust is your program?

Welcome to our Environmental Monitoring for BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS) series. Download our free guide today.   There is no universal blueprint for a environmental monitoring for BRCGS program within the food production industry. Individual companies design and structure their programs based on their own specific manufacturing environment and hazard analysis. Whatever food you are manufacturing, from apple sauce to zwieback, a robust environmental monitoring plan is a cornerstone of working towards the BRC Global Standards for Food Safety (BRCGS). We have put together a free downloadable... Read More

26/05/2020
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Limiting infection and contamination through cleaning and verification in food manufacture

Studies conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine show that coronaviruses remain viable on plastics for 72 hours, stainless steel for 48 hours, cardboard for 24 hours and copper for 4 hours.  Residues remaining on surfaces can also sustain the viability of bacteria.  This highlights the significance of cleaning and verifying the cleanliness of your weighing machinery and work areas.

26/03/2020
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Food Industry Month: Conclusion

Week 1: Environmental Monitoring Recognising food safety and quality issues As the world increasingly recognises food safety and food quality failures, there’s more emphasis on the environmental monitoring programs. Read more… Environmental monitoring for spoilage organisms Environmental monitoring is used by food production companies to plan for microbial spoilage as it allows them to address the issues as they arise. Read more… The importance of identifying specific goals in environmental monitoring Although there isn’t a universally recognised framework for environmental monitoring, there are some approaches which are consistent with other... Read More

20/03/2020
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A guide to General Allergen Monitoring

The best way of controlling potential cross contamination of products with allergens is a vigorous allergen monitoring regime, which the BRCGS recommends. In this guide we will cover a range of key topics. Content: What is a food allergy? Key allergens Production facilities Kitchens Non-packaged food Packaged food Cleaning surfaces Training staff Our allergen product range What is a food allergy? A food allergy is a medical condition in which exposure to food triggers a harmful immune response. This immune response, or allergic reaction, occurs because the immune system attacks... Read More

12/03/2020
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Swabbing Techniques for Hygiene Monitoring

At Gem, we talk a lot about the importance of having a robust hygiene monitoring program. But that all falls flat if your swabbing technique isn’t up to scratch. In this blog, we will highlight the best practices to achieve accurate, consistent and reliable results when swabbing surfaces for hygiene and environmental monitoring. HOW TO COLLECT A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE To collect a substantial sample on a flat surface, swab a 10 X 10 cm square. In a hard-to-clean area, swab as much surface as possible. For swabbing inside a cylinder,... Read More