The Food Safety Officer turns out to be an Internal Auditor reflecting ISO 22000. Let’s define Internal Auditing in the Food Industry first. It can be defined as a retrospection of the Food Safety Management System (FSMS), thus all parameters regarding standards are in a position to achieve food safety. The Food Safety Team assigns the Food Safety Officer as an Internal Auditor.
Read more: Food Safety Team Responsibilities & Roles
A set framework of major ISO standards about Food Safety is integrated with :
- ISO 22000 (HACCP integrated)
- ISO 9001
- ISO/TS 22003
- ISO/TS 22002-1
FOOD SAFETY OFFICER AND ISO 22000 INTERNAL AUDITING
A Food Safety Officer gets the confidence to face any third-party or authority inspections in the future through Internal auditing. But Corrective action after every audit must be met carefully. The food safety Team should be well-trained in internal auditing.It is advised to get a certified internal audit in your Food Manufacturing Industry. The team should be hawk-eyed, observing from the ceiling to the outside of the premises. To improve standards of work Internal auditing is otherwise be done every day in a minimalized unofficial manner.
Retrospection of Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
Internal Auditing in Food
ISO 22000 and BRCGS Standards is an important standard of Food Industry. Its foundations and Pre-Requisite (PRP/) programs set a benchmark for the industry. Foods manufactured under this standard are of great demand. So, a Food safety personnel with internal auditing experience can identify hazards from receiving till the finished product.
You are everyday a CID in Food Inspection
After the final inspection by Internal Auditing Food Safety Team frames an Internal Audit Report. It consists of :
- Non Conformances (NCs)
- Audit Recommendations or otherwise defined as Corrective Action.
- See to a sample of ”Internal Audit Report’‘
Hence to prepare and implement the Food Safety Management System (FSMS) the Food Safety Team Leader should make an internal audit plan,
Therefore Food Safety Management System should be audited at least once yearly. To ensure that elements in the ISO 22000 standard are implemented and being followed.
Subsequently, the Food Safety Team Leader should notify the internal audit plan to the Department Manager/ Section in charge before the audit.
Audit Process
Then, the Food Safety Team Leader should assign an auditor, of course, independent of the area to be audited.
The auditor should prepare and plan the audit by knowing the area being audited, and then preparing the Internal Audit Checklist.
Afterwards, the opening meeting should be conducted with the Department Manager/ Section in charge, where the auditor explains the scope of the audit, audit criteria (based on which standard the audit is being conducted) and the purpose of the closing meeting.
Then upon completion of the audit, the auditor should prepare the audit report,
The auditor should communicate the results of the audits to the Department Managers/ Section in charge responsible.
Any non-conformity identified during the audit should be recorded on a Corrective Action Request
The corrective actions should be processed as per the correction and the corrective action procedure
The corrective actions and the completion date should be proposed by the Department Managers/ Section in charge during the closing meeting and agreed by the auditor.
Audit Follow-up
After the estimated time for the completion of corrective actions, the auditor should conduct the follow-up audit to verify the implementation and effectiveness of the correction taken.
The completion or closure of the corrective actions should be recorded in the Corrective Action Request, and maintained by the Food Safety Team Leader.
The Food Safety Team Leader discusses the results of the internal audit as an input in the management review (MR) meetings.
Conclusion
Internal auditing is a cornerstone of food safety management, ensuring compliance with ISO 22000 and other standards. The role of the Food Safety Officer as an Internal Auditor is critical in identifying hazards, implementing corrective actions, and continuously improving food safety processes. By adhering to rigorous auditing practices and maintaining a proactive approach, food manufacturing industries can achieve high food safety and quality standards.
ISO 22000:2018 – Elements of Food Safety Management System (FSMS)
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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 !!!
