Food Safety inspection equipment for your food safety inspections. It’s the start of the day of your Food Safety inspection with a Food Safety inspection equipment kit. A food safety inspection is not only a retrospection of food processing areas visually and commenting through a checklist. It involves proving non-conformity through proven measurements. Thinking about what to keep in hand for your daily inspection. Here is FoodTechSafety summarizing important instruments.
As we know food safety lies in the principle of time temperature. Food must be always out of the dangerous zone. Safe food is our ultimate goal. Any deviation from the dangerous zone must be immediately rectified.
Therefore to ensure compliance the following food safety inspection kit is a must.
1. Thermometer
Temperature is a vital factor in determining food safety. As food inspections and CCPs are measured in terms of temperature. Therefore to monitor temperature a thermometer is a must for a Food Safety Officer.
As we know there are different types of thermometers. The type of food determines the selection of the thermometer. Probe thermometers are extensively used in the food industry. Since the invention of IR thermometers, hot foods priority IR thermometers.
There are types of thermometers ranging from digital display to dial reading. Also, thermometers fixed to oven and chiller are a vital part of food inspection; for quick readings.
So finally a food safety officer must keep in hand the basic thermometer to IR to detect any non-conformances during your food safety checks.
2. pH Meter
pH meter is an important instrument in the Food processing industry. This measures the acidity level in food. Indeed it is a parameter to observe quality and safety levels in food.
As we know ph level is 1 to 14; from acidity to alkaline level in food. Which is otherwise directly proportional to the concentration level in food. A colour gradient or test paper strips with a standard colour gradient measure the pH level in food.
When comes to the Food Safety Officer measures the pH level in the water during the inspection. Primarily this is an important parameter to meet standard requirements.
If pH is an important CCP in your food safety plan, a food safety officer requires accurate and reliable measurements. For this, a digital pH meter is essential in hands. There are two types of pH meter to be listed as significant apart from paper strips. They are:
- Handheld probe pH meter
- Pen-style pH meter.
Above pH meters can be used in convenience with the type of food safety plan or type of food produced.
3. Inspection Test pieces
Inspection test pieces are used in metal detectors in the Food Industry. This helps to test and measure the accuracy and sensitivity level of Metal detection equipment. Indeed this determines the calibration of detectors.
The basic test pieces used in metal detectors are the following:
- 0.2 mm to 20.0mm Ferrous
- Aluminum
- 0.2 mm to 20.0mm Non Ferrous
- Stainless
Test pieces with color-code as follows:
FE = Ferrous RED
NFE = Non-Ferrous YELLOW
SS = Stainless Steel BLUE
A food safety officer uses test pieces during daily inspections or during the audit to detect non-conformances in metal detectors.
Calibration
Calibration is the next most important function of the Food Safety Officer. This helps in testing the accuracy of instruments and determines standards.
Therefore a day of your job starts with calibration. This determines instrument is correct or required to be replaced. Document everyday calibration based on food standards.
4. Food / Hygiene ATP Testing Meter
Swab tests are done on Food Surfaces, Food handlers’ hands and equipment to find whether the surface is hygienic. And are free from contamination after rigorous and scheduled cleaning activities in the Food Processing or Restaurant Industry.
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Author: Meera Jacob
A Food Safety Officer and Food Technologist in nature. Auditing and observing food safety systems is a prior interest. Writing and describing my experience is another passion. The food Industry is a diverse area with food safety as its prime focus to flourish. And that makes me more enthusiastic to work on various Non-Conformances and Risk Analysis. Happy Food Safetying to all Food Safety Professionals !!!
