Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The legislative requirements in the EU require that “at all stages of production,
processing and distribution, food is to be protected against any contamination likely
to render the food unfi t for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated
in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect it to be consumed in that state”
(Anon.
2004a
).
7.4.1
Chemical
7.4.1.1
Contamination
Although gross chemical contamination of products is not common, it is important
to recognise that the co-transportation or storage of food and non-food items can
result in taints being acquired by the food. This can be particularly prominent in low
moisture and high-fat foods including bakery items, chocolate or even produce in
crates (with perforated containers/punnets) if they are stored in close proximity to
highly perfumed products including household, health and beauty products. Such
taints can also arise from diesel fumes, poorly cured packaging, pallets or poorly
cleaned crates. In general, such risks are well recognised and food and non-food
items are usually stored separately and kept apart during transportation. Regulation
(EU) 852/2004 (Anon.
2004a
) requires that where different foodstuffs are trans-
ported at the same time or where non-foodstuffs are also transported in the same
conveyance, there must be “effective separation of the products” and receptacles
and containers cannot be used for carrying anything other than a foodstuff if there is
a risk of contamination to the foodstuff.
7.4.2
Microbiological
7.4.2.1
Contamination
In general, the risks to foods during transportation and storage at depot are limited,
as such products are generally packaged or covered in such a way as to protect
against ingress of contamination sources or through cross-contamination from other
sources. However, raw and RTE foods including raw and cooked meats are often
stored in the same warehouse and also transported in the same vehicles. In such
circumstances, it is normal practice to store products in different parts of the depot
and to load deliveries onto separate containers or roll cages. Where it is not possible
to employ separate storage areas or transport vehicles/containers, the practice of
keeping raw products below RTE ones is operated together with the principle that
the two should always be kept separate, i.e., through the use of secondary packaging
such as a box or by placing the products in separate crates, thereby preventing the
products coming into contact with each other. This is important because while it is
generally recognised that the packaging presents a barrier to cross-contamination,
