Slide 1

Sanitation
Alternative 3

Slide 2

How does Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) get into plants and RTE food products?

• Because Lm is everywhere in the environment it can easily enter the processing plants (transported by humans, equipment, vehicles, shoes, etc.)
• Once inside a processing plant (typically cold and wet environment), Lm can establish itself and persist for long periods of time

Slide 3

FSIS Listeria Risk Assessment

• Listeria positive food contact surfaces result in increased likelihood of RTE products positive for Lm.
• Combinations of interventions were shown more effective at reducing potential contamination of RTE products with Lm than a single intervention

Slide 4

Post-Lethality Environment

• Lm can continually be re-introduced into the plant environment
• When present in the plant environment Lm can eventually lead to contamination of food contact surfaces and RTE product

Slide 5

Why have Testing in your Sanitation Program?

• Required for plants that choose Alternative 3
• Required for plants that choose Alternative 2 and choose to use only an antimicrobial agent or process that suppresses or limits the growth of Lm
• Verify sanitary condition(s)
  • Essential to continually assess a plant’s Lm controls
  • Identify problems and Lm contamination sources that would otherwise go undetected

Slide 6

Alternative 3 (and 2)

• Establishment sanitation program must:

1. Test food contact surfaces in post-lethality processing environment
2. Identify the conditions to start hold-and-test procedures following positive test of food-contact surface for Lm or indicator organism
3. State testing frequency
4. Identify size and location of sample sites
5. Explain why testing frequency is sufficient to ensure effective control of Lm or indicator organisms

Slide 7

Alternative 3 only

• Deli product or hotdog product additionally:

1. Verify corrective action after positive test of a post-lethality contact surface
   • Follow-up testing to ensure effectiveness
2. If follow-up testing results in a second positive, establishment must hold lots until corrected
3. Sample and test with statistical confidence level before product can enter into commerce or rework held product

Slide 8

Harborage Site or Niches

• The location in the food processing environment where microorganisms can live and multiply.
• A place where they can hide, spread, and contaminate equipment/product.
• Niches may contain spoilage organisms and/or pathogens.
• Microbiological testing is necessary to detect the niche.

Slide 9

Biofilm

• A bacterial film that is attached to a surface and protects the organism.
• Biofilms make sanitizers less effective.
• Biofilms can occur on surfaces such as metal, flooring materials, rubber, fabric, wood that are infrequently or inadequately cleaned.

Slide 10

Testing Program

• Food Contact
  • Equipment
  • Workers
  • Packaging
• Non-Food Contact Surfaces
  • Environment
• Other Factors

Slide 11

Sanitation

Workshop Discussion
Refer to Handout

Slide 12

 Slide 12 is a floor plan of a ready-to-eat product only plant.

Slide 13

Color Codes

• GREEN = People traffic pattern
• BLUE = RTE Product flow
• ORANGE = Raw Product flow
• PINK = Inedible / Trash flow
• RED = Food Contact Sampling Sites
• TAN = NON CONTACT Environmental Sampling Sites

Slides 14-23
 

Slides 14-23 show the floor plan with arrows representing the traffic paths and product flows named on the Color Codes slide.

Slide 24

Testing Frequency

• Testing frequency should be based on:
  • History and trends
  • Features of the plant
  • Type of product and volume
  • Plant layout
  • Product flow

Slides 25-28

Materials Needed for Testing

• Surface Testing
  • Pre-sterilized sponges in the sample bag or commercially available kit
  • Sterile sample bags
  • Sterile, disposable gloves
  • Sterile neutralizing broth (e.g., Dey-Engley (D/E))
  • Clipboard
• Surface Testing
  • A basket to hold the sample bags for preparation
  • Marking pen and label stickers
  • Sample shippers with pre-frozen refrigerant packs and cardboard separator
  • A system for next day delivery to the lab
  • Plastic bags for trash
• Product Testing
  • Product sample in the final, intact package
  • Sterile sample bags
  • A basket to hold the sample bags for preparation
  • Marking pen and label stickers
  • Sample shippers with pre-frozen refrigerant packs and cardboard separator
  • A system for next day delivery to the lab
• Liquid Testing
  • Sterile ladles with handles for aseptic handling of solution
  • Sterile, disposable gloves
  • Sterile plastic specimen cups with water tight screw caps
  • Self-closing bags of an appropriate size
  • Sterile disposable pipettes
  • Pipettor or equivalent

Slide 29

Sampling Technique
Workshop Demonstration

Slides 30-33

How to Collect a Sample

• Sampling Procedure Example:
  • Sterile gloves may or may not be required
  • Wash and sanitize your hands
  • Open the bag containing the pre-sterilized sponge
  • Aseptically pour sterile neutralizing broth into bag to hydrate the sponge
  • Press the mouth of the bag back together
  • Moisten the sponge by using hand pressure on outside of the bag
• Sampling Procedure Example
  • Squeeze the excess broth out of the sponge
  • Carefully take the sponge out of the bag
  • Swab at least a 1 foot square area
  • Swab the area vertically ten times, then use other side of sponge to swab horizontally and diagonally, 10 times respectively
• Sampling Procedure Example
  • Open the bag and insert the sponge back into the bag
  • Grip the sponge through the bag
  • Squeeze air out of the bag. Fold the top of the bag down at least 3 times. Fold in the tabs to lock the fold in place
• Sampling Procedure Example
  • The primary container is placed into a self-closing bag with an identifying label. Label with company name, date, time, and location
  • As soon as possible, place the bagged sponge inside an insulated sample shipper

Slide 34

Packing the Sample

• The Shipping containers should be pre-chilled. Place two pre-frozen gel packs into the bottom of the pre-chilled container.
• Place a cardboard separator on top of the gel packs and then put in the samples.
• Add a foam plug or cardboard
• Send the boxes to the lab by overnight shipment or by other means acceptable to the lab.

Slide 35

Participant practice session

Take Home Message: Always maintain aseptic technique.

Slide 36

Conclusion

• FSIS may perform more frequent verification testing if the establishment chooses Alternative 3
• Log onto www.fsis.usda.gov
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