Microorganisms are present in food handling environments and usually introduced through raw materials and employees. Properly designed microbiological sampling plans are an important component of an effective food safety system. They help ensure sanitary conditions are being maintained. Sampling plans can help ensure the safety and quality of your products which can be used to elevate customer confidence in your products.
Plans to support food safety and quality decisions
- Ensure food safety programs are functioning as intended and preventing/controlling potential food safety hazards.
- Support sanitation programs are effective at removing residues and microorganisms from food contact surfaces.
- Differentiate acceptable from unacceptable product.
- Ensure customer purchase specifications are met.
- Determine the shelf-life of food.
Scientifically sound microbiological sampling plans can be utilized to assess food safety, process control, shelf-life, suitability of a food or ingredient, adherence to GMPs, and to validate food safety systems.
For example, a sampling plan can help gauge process control of microbes such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. Federally inspected establishments that slaughter poultry (other than ratites) are required to meet regulatory requirements (9 CFR 381.65) to demonstrate the effectiveness of their process control procedures. These establishments must develop, implement, and maintain written procedures to prevent contamination of carcasses and parts by enteric pathogens (e.g., Salmonella and Campylobacter) and fecal material throughout the entire slaughter and dressing operation. At a minimum, these procedures must include sampling and analysis for microorganisms.
Each establishment must incorporate their written procedures, including their microbiological sampling plans into their HACCP plan, SSOP, or other prerequisite program. The rule also requires each establishment to maintain daily records to document the implementation and monitoring of their procedures.
During her time at FSIS, Dr. Vetter specifically helped design and evaluate microbiological sampling programs for pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter in raw products. Her expertise can help your business meet the regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 381.65.
Robust microbial sampling plans for specific pathogens of concern can also be utilized to aide in establishing microbiological independence between different lots of product. If your business is ever implicated in outbreak or has to conduct a recall, information obtained from a robust microbiological sampling plan can be a very important component in limiting the scope of products implicated in the outbreak or recall.
