It is paramount that egg products meet the stipulated regulatory standards. This guarantees the safety of the food. Additionally, egg products are easily prone to contamination if they aren’t processed well or handled correctly. Consuming contaminated food can result in food poisoning. So, egg products must adhere to the standards set by food regulatory bodies. Let us discuss how you can ensure that the liquid egg white you buy meets the required standards.
Confirming The Quality Of Egg Products
Here’s what you need to know:
Understand egg product regulations
You must get details of the local or international stipulations on egg product safety. One of the legislations to get acquainted with is the FDA’s Egg Safety Rule. This rule is expected to stop 79,000 cases of food poisoning from consuming contaminated egg products. Shell egg producers must register with the FDA before being regarded as a facility that follows the standards. This means you can’t get egg products from any facility or producer that does not follow the legislation set by the FDA or any other international regulatory body.Make sure the product undergoes routine testingBefore buying, you must check if the product has undergone a series of safety tests. Find out if the lab runs Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli tests because these are the usual suspects when it comes to pathogens that contaminate egg products. Does the product have USDA process certification? Furthermore, you must confirm any additional details about the product’s testing from their website. If the product has a tag like Safety Guaranteed or Tested for Quality, it means it has passed the appropriate screening.
Check if the egg product came from farms that implement GAPs
When shopping for egg products, make sure the product comes from a farm that implements the proper GPAs (Good Agricultural Practices). Farms that observe this protocol guarantee the production of eggs in a safe environment and, in the process, reduce the risk of contamination. You can confirm this by checking if the product is certified by UEP (United Egg Producers). Organizations like the United Egg Producers have set strict standards for food safety, animal welfare, and farm management. Buying GAP-certified egg products will reduce the risk of foodborne diseases and encourage good farming practices. Getting information about production processes of egg product manufacturers will require some research. However, all the information you need is easily accessible online.
Confirm if the producers implemented GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices)
You must make sure the egg product manufacturer implements GMPs. Egg products made with Good Manufacturing Practices guarantee safety and quality. The process of certifying GMPs includes:
- Verifying personnel hygiene.
- Checking if they practice proper maintenance of their work equipment.
- Checking if they implement proper sanitation practices.
- Check for HACCP certification. Also, check for Safe Quality Food (SQF) before buying. The above certifications confirm that the producers verifies that the production process involves rigorous control to avoid food contamination.
Check if the product offers traceability
An egg product that offers traceability ensures the supply chain’s transparency. This means you have to buy only products with clear documentation showing the farm it came from, the date it was produced, and how it was made. The easiest way to determine this is to check the packaging for certifications like Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI). Doing this ensures standardized tracking. Make sure the product has a QR code that allows it to be traced. Making traceability a priority when shopping for egg products will make it easy to identify mistakes and ensure that the item is recalled if it’s contaminated.
Check the labeling and packaging for accurate information about the product’s contents
You must carefully check the packaging and labeling of an egg product to verify that the information about its content is accurate. Only buy products with net quantity, product name, ingredients, and nutritional facts. Check for the presence of warnings about allergies. Furthermore, check for details about how to store and handle the product. Make sure the egg product is USDA-certified. Look out for misleading labels or details you don’t understand, and contact the manufacturer for more details. When the product is accurately labeled and well packaged, it ensures safety. You will also make the right choice based on your nutritional preferences.
Check if the producers routinely train their staff
Another important consideration when it comes to verifying that egg products meet the regulatory regulations is to confirm that the manufacturer conducts continuous training of their employees. You can confirm this by checking if the product is BRC-certified. This certification ensures that manufacturers conduct routine training of their staff. Ensure the packaging indicates that the company is committed to employee development. Reach out to the product producer to learn about the frequency of their employee training programs. Going for products manufactured by producers that regularly train their employees ensures transparency and accountability.
Conclusion
You must adopt a multi-faceted approach to ensure that the liquid egg white product you want to buy meets the regulatory standard. The important things to consider include understanding the regulation, checking if the producer uses eggs from farms that practice proper GAPs, and prioritizing traceability. Additionally, check for accurate labeling and packaging. Also, check if the producer conducts regular training for their employees. Applying the above suggestions will ensure egg product quality and safety. These guidelines are also useful to farmers who are interested in ensuring their products meet regulatory requirements.