One stop platform for bakery industry BAKERY BAZAR
Food safety and hygiene is very important area in any food industries . Food factories has to keep basic good house keeping and hygiene standards as any lack in this area would result in very poor performance of the business . This is also important as the Consumers are very sensitive to foreign body complaints or anything which might effects individual healths . Some governments has imposed very strict quality parameter for ingredients and their storage practices .Food safety in bakery industry has certain features which are different from other food factories .
As consumers have become educated on food safety standards and health safety . Governments have responded with more laws on food safety .It would be highly recommended that bakery manufacturers invest good amount of funds to the food safety equipments and measures .
To handle these issue International standards are being followed . Companies have opted for HACCP certification .
Key areas and equipments for food safety and hygienes for bakery plants are
Pest control
Factory or ware house or retail shops are prone to pest different type s of pest grow in unhygeniic environment or where food material are available .Most prevalent pest are flies , cockroaches , rodents ,birds, spiders and reptiles . The strategies one should adopt is to prevent , control and eliminate such pest because if they are allowed to grow they could easily infect the raw material and finished goods .Various chemicals and technologies have come to capture and kill these pest . Few mentioned are insecticutors , air curtains and pvc curtains.
Employees hygiene
Employee hygiene also contributes to food safety .Employees have to wear protective clothes where ever they come in direct contact of food .It covers heads , clothes and shoes , gloves .Visitors to any food factory has to be asked to follow the food safety procedures . Includes washing hands by potassium permagnate .Wearing protective covers to the shoes etc .Food handlers should not be allowed to wear accessories like rings , any ornaments or accessories .
Medical check up and medical records of food handlers .
Food manufacturing industry normally follows practice of getting their food handlers checked and examined by doctors for any contagious disease .Medical records are kept and in case any food handlers is found to be infected by disease then that worker is shifted to other department
Cleanliness of factory
Sanitation of factory premises includes cleaning and washing of factory , washrooms and canteens floor sweepings of larger areas can be achieved through automated floor sweeping machines various combinations are available now days . Manual push and pull type and driver mounted floor washers are available . Chemicals are also available to kill bacteria and worms and remove bad odour .
Storage of raw materials and finished goods
Storage of raw material and finished good requires regular monitoring . Raw materials have to kept in dy and cool place certain material has to be kept in cold room as required . Humidity can deteriote certain . Raw material should be always kept on plastic pallets and never on floors . A gaps has to kept from the wall and between the pallets .
Drainage system
Good drainage sytem has to be designed for smooth flow of domestic waste water and trade waste water to the collection pit . Effluent and sewerage treatment plant to be installed as per regulatory requirement .
Metal Detection
Magnets- Magnets to be installed at all the places where ever required to detect any metal particles in the raw material
Sieves- Materials to passed through sieveswherever possible to check for any foriegn particles and contamination
Metal detectors- Metal detectors can be placed in the process to check for any metal and non metal contamination.
Filters -- Liquid ingredients to passed through these filters to prevent any contamination .
Glass policies
All glasses under production areas need to be safe break type and windows to be safe break;ie in case of any glass breakage the glass shouldn,t break and fall into the products . Tubelights and other lighting fixtures to be safe break even clocks placed need to be safe break.
Water
Water is used in all bakery operations .the purity has to be checked for the presence of microbes and certain minerals and contaminations if any . Filters to be provided at various places in process .Water storage tanks to be cleaned in regular intervals .
Solid Waste Management
All soild waste to be stored in garbage bags and to shifted to outside garbage yard .Garbage should always be covered and should not be open in any case .
Cleaning of utensils and equipments
All utensils need to be cleaned in regular intervals for any contamination due to material decay. Bands and crates to be cleaned in regular intervals to maintain the hygiene of the equipments . Hot water is most suitable for such cleaning process.
Lubrication
Lubrication or greasing of machines drive ,chains and sprockets could be done by food lubricants .Various food lubricants are available in markets . Even certain guides requires lubrication these guides can be lubricated by food lubricants
Material of construction
Material of construction of all bakery equipment and machinery should be stainless steel 316 grades which is food grade and does not got rust on it surface .Other material get to affected by rust .All utensils and other holding should also be food grade s.s or plastic.
Building design and maintenance
Ensure that walls of building are crack proof and floors are tiled no openings are found in the floor .Design of building has to be such that it is rodent , pest and bird proof .Daily inspection for baits, sanitation and cleaniness are followed . Windows has to be covered by mesh so as to prevent flies . Doors has to be such that it gets closed automatically . Lighting outside the plant shoulld be such that It does not attract insects insie the factory ie It should be at some distance.