Food/Beverage Air
TRI Air Testing provides independent laboratory support for many food, beverage and packaging companies testing their compressed air. We offer 24-hour turnaround time and online laboratory reports via MYAIR™ . SQF Managers use compressed air testing equipment provided by TRI to collect compressed air samples as part of their facilities’ air quality compliance, safety and SQF food safety programs. We send the kit to you, you take a sample and send it back to our lab.
New regulatory changes require compressed air testing. SQF, BRC, GFSI, and FSMA all mandate testing of compressed air systems that come directly or indirectly into contact with your product.
We are happy to provide your company with a no cost consultation call to help you assess your testing needs. Our employees are air testing experts as well as HACCP and PCQI certified.
Our Testing Program Offers:
- Mold and Bacteria Testing
- Testing for SQF, BRC and FSMA Reliable Results and Online Report Access
- Same Day Results for Air/Gas Testing
- AIHA-LAP, LLC Accredited Lab
- ANSI/ISO/ASQ 9001-2008 Compliant
- ISO 17025-2005 Compliant
- Test to a Wide Range of Custom and Industry Standards
- HACCP and PCQI Certified Staff
- Over 43 Years of Experience Testing Air
SQF Compressed air purity is essential to many manufacturing, food processing, bottling and packaging operations. High-quality compressed air provides energy for pneumatic conveyer and handling systems that transport liquids and powders during the production cycle. Compressed air influences the safety of wrapping, sealing, labeling and palletizing these products for shipping or storage. SQF Compressed Air Purity is critical for providing food products and packaging that are not only cost effective to process but safe to eat or drink.
TRI now offers On-Site Testing Technicians available for 3rd party testing.
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FDA cGMPs
117.20 Plant and ground
(6) Provide adequate ventilation or control equipment to minimize dust, odors and vapors (including steam and noxious fumes) in areas where they may cause allergen cross-contact or contaminate food; and locate and operate fans and other air-blowing equipment in a manner that minimizes the potential for allergen cross-contact and for contaminating food, food-packaging materials, and food-contact surfaces.
GFSI REQUIREMENTS
Standard | Clause Name | Requirement |
Production of Food Packaging | GMP M 11.1 Air and Water Quality Management | The standard shall require that the quality of air, compressed air and water (including steam) that comes into contact with packaging material shall present no risk to product safety. |
Storage and Distribution | GDP J 10.1 Air, water quality and utility management (including ice) | Air, water quality and utility management (including ice) The standard shall require that the quality of air and water in any form that comes into direct contact with food or food packaging shall present no risk to product safety. |
Production of Feed | GMP FD 11 Utilities | Utilities The standard shall require a system be in place to manage feed safety risk, where air, compressed air and water (including steam) may come into contact with raw materials, ingredients, packaging and feed. |
SECTIONS OF SQF CODE 8 RELATING TO COMPRESSED AIR
- 3.5.6 - Animal Feed
- 4.5.5 - Pet food
- 9.5.6 - Pre-processing of animal products
- 10.5.5 - Pre-processing of plant products
- 11.5.5 - Manufacturing
- 12.5.6 - Storage and Distribution
- 13.5.3 - Manufacture of Food Packaging
SQF COMPRESSED AIR REQUIREMENTS
11.5.5 The Quality of Air and Other Gases
- 11.5.5.1 Compressed air or other gasses (e.g. nitrogen, carbon dioxide) that contacts food or food contact surfaces shall be clean and present no risk to food safety.
- 11.5.5.2 Compressed air systems, and systems used to store or dispense other gasses used in the manufacturing process that come into contact with food or food contact surfaces shall be maintained and regularly monitored for quality and applicable food safety hazards.
SQF CODE FAQ'S AND CLARIFICATIONS
https://www.sqfi.com/about-sqf/faq/sqf-code/
- Purity; "air must not contribute any contamination to the product”
- Assume that CDA can be a source of contamination
- Use Food Grade Oil
- Appropriate filtration recommended at point of use is 0.1 micron
- Nozzles and hoses maintained in hygienic state and kept off ground
- Test to validate CDA system at a minimum of annually
- Microbiological testing performed in an aseptic manner
RECOMMENDED BY SQF CODE 8
- Air should be filtered at point of use, filter size recommended is 0.1 micron (for most uses)
- Source of contaminants to be considered are microbiological, non-viable particulate, moisture, oil and chemical as well where applicable
THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN TESTING YOUR COMPRESSED AIR FOR SQF
- OVER TESTING TO CLEAN ROOM AND STERILE STANDARDS SUCH AS ISO 8573 [1:2:1] or [2:4:2] is almost always unnecessary for the food sector and not specified by any certification body in the food, beverage or packaging industry.
- Over testing is costly leading to increased maintenance, additional system components and unwarranted corrective action procedures.
- Running an initial baseline test is a great start to setting up a specification that meets your needs.
The Food and Beverage manufacturing industry can apply principles of the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) system and a risk analysis. The seven HACCP principles are included in the international standard ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System (FSMS). This standard is a food safety and quality management system incorporating the elements of prerequisite programs (GMP & SSOP), HACCP and the quality management system, which together form an organization’s Total Quality Management system.
For FDA and Compressed Air Testing regulated operations in the United States, HACCP compliance is currently regulated by 21 CFR part 120 & 123. Additional food safety resources include the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), British Compressed Air Society Limited (BCAS), Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Safe Quality Food Program (SQF).
Compressed air is a Critical Control Point (CCP) and includes direct contact or indirect contact with a food or beverage product. TRI Air Testing suggests performing a baseline, no specification comparison, testing on new or untested systems to help determine the appropriate specification requirements. We can also provide compressed air purity for your own custom specifications.
Food, beverage and packaging facilities must develop a careful understanding of their products and testing protocol to ensure the compressed air that is critical to their food manufacturing operations is used consistently and responsibly.
Learn More:
- How it Works
- Food and Beverage Specifications
- MyAir – Compressed Air Testing
- SQF Compressed Air Purity
- SQF Compressed Air Testing_FAQS
- Compressed Air Best Practices
- Practical Compressed Air Gas Testing
- TRI’s Quality System
- ISO 8573 in the Food AND Beverage Industry Brochure
- Baseline No Specification Comparison Lab Report
* If your specification requires a breakdown of oil mist from particulate a 48 hour turnaround is required to meet this specification.
** Wikipedia HACCP References
TRI AIR TESTING STANDARDS COMPARISONS
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Testing for SQF, BRC and FSMA
Reliable Results & Online Report Access
Same Day Results for Air/Gas Testing
Over 43 Years of Experience Testing Air
AIHA-LAP, LLC Accredited Lab
ANSI / ISO / ASQ 9001-2008 Compliant
ISO 17025-2005 Compliant
Test to a Wide Range of Custom & Industry Standards
Our Staff is HACCP and PCQI Certified
COMPRESSED AIR TESTING
WE PIONEERED THE SCIENCE!
TRI completes more than 4,000,000 analyses annually, working with many of the top companies in the world for compliance, validation and peace of mind.
Air/Gas Testing For Your Business
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