An Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) is a systematic way of testing the food production environment, including all food contact surfaces, for potential contamination. It is a key step in a well-developed Food Safety Program.
This step is quite often underestimated, as we see many product recalls being traced to the environment of production. A well-considered and delivered EMP is the best front-line defense against product safety failure. It would be far less costly than a single product recall.
Major global standards such as BRCGS require a well-designed EMP to measure the effectiveness of a current food safety plan in facilities. EMPs can also be necessary to meet local and international regulations.
Why is it Important to Monitor the Environment of Production?
- To detect potential pathogen intrusion in the manufacturing environment;
- To identify variations in process indicators on food contact and non-food contact surfaces;
- To implement corrective actions or preventive measures based on data.
What are Key Aspects of the Environmental Monitoring Program?
- Defining the manufacturing environment perimeter and establishing proper zoning: Zone 1 is for the areas in direct contact with the product at most sensitive points, while Zone 4 is a non-food area.
- Defining criteria for a standard monitoring vs. a reinforced monitoring vs. an investigation process: in case of product non-conformity, new equipment, etc.
- Identifying ecological niches: places with higher risk of strains proliferation (i.e. all difficult to access/clean surfaces);
- Planning relevant controls, with the appropriate frequency and the right number of samples, depending on the risk level;
- Developing a reliable sampling process with detailed location information and observations to generate reliable data;
- Getting exploitable data from your EMP to take actions.
Our Solutions for a Reliable Environmental Monitoring Program
Design
Our Food Safety Consultants help with the identification of hotspots in your manufacturing areas, based on analytical data and a mapping of your process and flow. They will accompany you to build a reliable EMP, aligned with your risk assessment, recurring incidents and safety issues already encountered.
The outcome of this designing phase is a clear planning of when to sample, with a detailed map of critical locations to sample, frequency of sampling & number of samples.
With a tool like EnviroMap, all these parameters can be easily integrated and your program can be optimized dynamically.
Perform
Routinely, our auditors will perform:
- A routine environmental sampling with surface swabs;
- An assessment of your cleaning and sanitation procedures performance;
- Air and water monitoring (if planned in the EMP).
All the samples will be tested at Mérieux Nutrisciences’ laboratories for more reliable results and to prevent risk of cross-contamination, thanks to our High Quality Standards in all our laboratories, worldwide.
Take Actions
EMPs allow early detection of the contaminations and their root cause. A mapping of the evolution of your hotspots helps you anticipate risks for your product’s safety and take preventive measures.
A tool like EnviroMap is especially useful in that purpose: the mapping of environmental test results within the plant enables the detection of early signs of contamination.
Our Portfolio of Specific Solutions
EnviroMap is a cloud-based solution by Mérieux NutriSciences, streamlining environmental monitoring in the food industry. It automates sampling plans, offers real-time analytics, and enhances operational efficiencies. With features like plant map display and automatic reporting, EnviroMap is designed to ensure brand protection and reduces production losses.
Having an effective environmental monitoring program with a comprehensive sampling plan is crucial to ensure food safety. Contact us to discuss your needs and develop a customized EMP.