Hello there,
Costco recently updated its guideline regarding foreign material in food safety audits (page 18 -19). In our process,
After mixing all fours, the product is passed through a screen and then the finished product is passed through a metal detector. Does it meet the requirements of the audit? Please can you advise?
Thank you.
All manufacturing operations must have a properly installed and calibrated X-ray detection device for
finished product, except in the following circumstances:
● Product texture, density, or chemical composition is such that it limits the performance of
the X-ray technology to an unacceptable level. These operations will be required to have a
metal detector installed as well as a letter from a subject matter expert confirming that Xray
is not applicable.
● Shell Eggs, whole raw agricultural commodities, whole roasted coffee beans, whole muscle
meats, and packaging products will be exempt from the X-ray requirement. The operation
will need to maintain current good manufacturing practices and prerequisite programs to
mitigate foreign material contamination.
● Operations that utilize a physical barrier (e.g. screen, filter, sieve) that's appropriately sized
and placed will be exempt from the X-ray device requirement. The operation will need to
conduct integrity checks at a defined frequency, and maintain current good manufacturing
practices and prerequisite programs to mitigate foreign material