Hygiene Audits
Many food businesses recognise the benefit in having an expert pair of eyes to examine the hygienic status of their establishment. Mallett Quality Management will perform tailor-made hygiene audits at a frequency that is appropriate to the size and nature of the business. We can use our own hygiene audit template or work with you on one specifically tailored to your needs. Hygiene audits are conducted for both the manufacturing and catering industry.
All audits are formally reported in writing with recommendation on necessary remedial action and recommendations on proactive measures to maintain good food safety and hygiene in your establishment.
Meeting Global Food Safety Initiative Technical Standards such as BRC
For some food manufacturers and packaging manufacturers, and indeed warehouse and storage operations, particularly those within the supermarket supply chain, accreditation to the appropriate BRC (British Retail Consortium) Technical Standard, other GFSI endorsed standards, ISO 22000 or, as a minimum, SALSA, has become obligatory in most cases. The Standards are quite complex now, including sections such as those on Food Safety Management systems, Quality Management Systems, Site Standards and even Senior Management Commitment. The requirement to have in place documented procedures to control all potential sources of contamination, including allergens, and to ensure the management of quality is paramount within the Standards. When starting from scratch this task can seem somewhat daunting and can be a drain on valuable personnel and time resources.
Other manufacturers may have already achieved the standard but recognise the benefit of having another pair of eyes participating in their internal audits, to prevent problems before they occur. Whatever your situation we will ensure that you end up with live documentation, understood and easily used by all, and produced by BRC trained auditors.
Meeting BSA Technical Standards
If you supply into the sandwich manufacturing industry, or you are a sandwich manufacturer, you may find that you are under increasing pressure to achieve the BSA (British Sandwich Association) Technical Standard. Certainly this achievement can realise enormous benefit in sales revenue, opening up a far wider customer base to you.
Mallett Quality Management can help you to design your Quality Manual and procedures necessary in your quest to achieve this standard. Essential for the factory manager who cannot afford the time to dedicate fully to this task.
Mallett Quality Management can save you these resources. We can advise you on technical aspects such as whether your factory layout, product work-flow and factory environment meet the BSA Technical Standard and if not, what measures you would need to take. When you have achieved the standard then we can also be on hand to participate in your internal audit schedule to ensure that you continue to meet the requirements of the standard.
Supplier Auditing
Supplier auditing is one of those tasks that can become necessary perhaps as a result of your accreditation standard (e.g to the BRC Technical standard) or because you wish to source a new approved supplier. Auditing requires preparation and a firm but fair approach to your suppliers. But too often the audit can go less smoothly then planned and it’s easy to return having “just wished that you’d remembered to ask this that or the other”!
Mallett Quality Management will take the time to prepare for, and audit your suppliers, on your behalf. And as independent auditors often to those seeking to gain accreditation to the BRC or BSA standard, you can be sure that the right questions will be asked. Furthermore you will receive an unambiguous written audit report clearly detailing positive points and areas requiring improvement.
Environmental Monitoring Programmes
How do you know that your cleaning schedule is effective if you don’t regularly monitor it? But the advice on monitoring your cleaning schedule does seem to be somewhat confusing or even conflicting at times! Perhaps you feel that questions such as ‘Where do I monitor?’ or ‘How often?’ or ‘What with?’, have just not been answered.
Mallett Quality Management can point you in the right direction. We can advise you how to monitor and record the efficacy of your cleaning regime using the latest swab technology or traditional methods. We can even help you to devise programmes to validate the removal of traces of allergens from food areas and equipment. And we can provide sound advice and technical back up concerning the most appropriate methods that you can use for monitoring your cleaning schedule.
Food Safety Training
Chapter XII of 852/2004 refers to the need for food handlers to be supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters comensurate with their work activity.
Our course tutors have a wealth of food safety experience and hold the CIEH Professional Trainer Certificate and / or teacher training qualifications, ensuring that courses are up to date, effective, fun and easy to follow.