4 replies to this topic

[Sussy]

I was wondering if any of you have any experience in this.

 

can we receive unwashed produce and store it in fridge, where there's also RTE products? I understand that it has to be segregated but does it need a physical barrier?

[Scampi]

i wouldn't risk it, what kind of RTE is it and in what type of packaging/state is it stored in?

[Sussy]

Any rte product in the fridge is covered somehow.

Fresh produce is received I nits original packaging and washed as needed.

Washing room is separate from the RTE production area.

Question is, while holding the produce in the fridge, is there any law by fda or usda that I must have a physical barrier?

[Baskaran Gangadharan]

As you rightly mentioned separate is the principle apply when it comes to storage of mixed food category in one chiller/temperature controlled storage unit. Care shall be taken to avoid the possibility of cross-contamination to the maximum extent, therefore, the sequence of storage in chiller always from RTE  ----- Partially cooked ----  Raw food from top to top.  

[GMO]

Certainly in the UK Environmental Health have got VERY twitchy about this, particularly with root vegetables.  The risk is pathogenic E Coli particularly.  Personally if you could I'd segregate the fridge.  If you can't, I'd make sure that the unwashed veg couldn't cross contaminate to the RTE but one thing to be careful about is door handles.  I'm not sure if this is a walk in fridge or upright fridge but either way someone has to open the door.  If they then remove some unwashed vegetables and close the door, the door handle possibly then has E Coli presence which may contaminate the next person's hands who are about to pick up something RTE.