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There is more to an audit today than ever before – each one with its own set of requirements.
This white paper outlines some key steps you can take to help prepare for a successful food safety audit:
Audits are more rigorous today than ever before – each one with its own set of requirements. Whether your plant is undergoing an audit for ISO (International Organization for Standardization), GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative), IFS Food (International Featured Safety), SFQ (Safe Quality Food), AIB International (American Institute of Baking), FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) or for a customer’s own internal standards, compliance has become increasingly important to your customers, consumers and to your company’s brand.
When preparing for the lubricant portion of the audit, there are some key similarities that should apply to your process, no matter which audit is on the horizon. These steps come down to:
Below is a list that can help as you prepare for the lubricant section of your audit. Be sure to consult the specific requirements for each audit to ensure any key information isn’t missed.
1. Product certifications
You may need to prove the oils and greases you use meet the required standards.
For food-grade lubricants, there may be additional confirmation statements required around allergens, dietary restrictions, use of genetically modified substances (GMS), etc. Statements or proof of compliance against local government or faith-based certifications, such as Kosher or Halal, may be required. This task is often a matter of contacting your lubricant supplier(s) for their most up-to-date certifications.
On average, food processing plants use between 20 and 60 lubricant products. It becomes obvious that if your facility has a consolidated lubrication program with fewer lubricants and reduced the number of vendors to one, it is faster and easier to obtain the documentation required to prove compliance.
2. Documentation
3. Safe storage and handling practices
Auditors will want to walk the floor to assess processing areas, locations where unused lubricants are stored and equipment rooms where some lubricants may be located.
In storage areas, besides the overall condition and cleanliness, they will look at the distinction between lubricants rated for incidental food contact (such as H1, HT1) from others commonly referred to as non-food grade. They will ensure that the risk of misuse of a non-food grade lubricant into an application identified as needing food grade has been identified and preventative controls are in place, since food safety is at stake.
From dedicated storage tanks with dedicated pumps, or drums with dedicated drum pumps, practices for storing and then transporting the lubricants to the equipment will help auditors in their risk assessment of cross-contamination.
Besides good identification and dedicated pumps, best-in-class storage areas will have devices to maintain product integrity while in storage and ensure clean oil is put into service, such as desiccant breathers on drums and bulk tanks to prevent airborne contamination, filtration and air-tight transport containers.
Food safety audits are much less overwhelming when your team is prepared. That’s why it’s best to incorporate these steps into your standard operating practices:
If you’re a Petro-Canada Lubricants customer, we’ve gathered our documentation and credentials below to make your preparation process a little easier: