Hi everyone,
I am from Canada, I am working in the meat processing facility as a QA manager.
This facility is manufacturing sliced par-cooked bacon since last 40 years. When the par cooked bacon bellies gets sliced then the individual take the pre-made carboard box with the plastic liner, keep it on the scale, pick up the bacon slices from the conveyor with the help of scoop and add slices of bacon layer by layer in the box, once the box contains correct weight of bacon, the same individual pick up the box and push it on the other conveyor where it further gets taped and sealed by the other person, followed by the metal detection and palletizing. Staff follow GMP's and wear disposable gloves and sleeves while handling the boxes and product through out the process.
My question: Is touching boxes and par-cooked bacon slices simultaneously ok as per SFCR or GFSI standard? If we have sufficient process validation studies done to prove that the risk is low and finished product is safe and do not posses any food safety risk to the consumer , then can it be helpful to resolve any potential regulatory non compliance?
Can anyone please put some input in this?