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INFO LETTER
Fruit, vegetables and potatoes
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Issue: 02/2012
Quality Assurance.
From farm to shop.
At its meeting in the spring, the advisory
board for fruit, vegetables, potatoes voted
on adjustments to the criteria in the gui-
delines. One resolution aims at practice-
orientated adjustment in the preparation
guideline for the production of mirepoix, or
soup greens.
The area of application of the Guideline Prepa-
ration includes all products which are chopped,
peeled and packaged, grated, shredded or pu-
reed after harvesting, as well as the treatment
of sprouts and shoots. It also includes mirepoix,
a product for which the advisory board has now
decided to introduce simplifications. The micro-
biological/ sensory testing of the products no
longer has to be conducted in line with the con-
trol plan, a risk-based approach can be adopted
in future. The requirements for microbiological
tests on the premises remain unchanged, how-
ever.
Another exception is that businesses which ex-
clusively process mirepoix are no longer requi-
red to have their staff trained every year in ac-
cordance with the Infection Protection Act (IfSG).
The basic requirement for hygiene training for
staff remains in place, however.
The microbiological hazard potential of mirepoix
should be classed as less than that of fresh-cut
products as it is usually cooked before eating.
The heating process prevents possible contami-
nation, because germs are killed off.
The amendment of the guideline will take effect
with the revision of 1 June 2012.
FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD
CHANGES TO THE Preparation GUIDELINE
Increased residue levels of the active
substances benzalkonium chloride (BAC)
and didecyldimethyl ammonium chlori-
de (DDAC) were determined in fruit and
vegetable products from various coun-
tries of origin. The substances belong to
the group of quaternary ammonium com-
pounds (QAC) which are a component of
many disinfectants.
According to the latest available knowledge,
DDAC is also authorized as a post-harvest treat-
ment agent (e.g. for citrus fruits and lychees) in
several third countries. It is also used to prevent
the formation of latex stains (e.g. with mangos)
and in rinsing water and/or during immersion.
By doing so, QAC residues can remain on the
surface of the foodstuff, even though this can
be avoided if used properly.
In this regard, QS
would like to point
out to scheme parti-
cipants that QAC con-
centrations should be
kept as low as good
working
practice
permits. Great care
should be taken to ensure the proper use of
disinfectants and effective cleaning. QS sche-
me participants have already received informa-
tion on this in circulars.
If the active substances are used as a post-har-
vest treatment in third countries, a maximum
concentration of 0.01 mg/kg applies in the EU.
If they are classed as additives not authorized
for foodstuffs as defined by Reg. EC 93/128,
they should be regarded as contaminants.
When the requirements of the QS scheme
are violated, every scheme participant must
expect consequences. To ensure fairness
here is the responsibility of the QS sanction
board which dealt with 80 cases from the
supply chain Fruit, Vegetables and Potatoes
last year.
Under the chairmanship of Wilbert Knickenberg,
who has since handed over his office to Kurt Pill-
mann, former President of the Regional Court in
Bonn, the Sanction Board issued a warning in
22 cases in 2011. A fine was imposed on scheme
participants in 53 cases and one scheme par-
ticipant had his reapproval withdrawn for two
years. Two scheme participants on the produc-
tion stage must satisfy additional requirements
in future and two cases were dismissed. Most of
the violations were in the area of plant protec-
tion (see info box) and affected the production
stage.
Almost 11,500 regular audits were conducted in
the supply chain Fruit, Vegetables and Potatoes
in 2011. Add to this the audits of special purpose,
random sample audits and the results of roughly
9,000 samples which were analyzed within the
scope of residue monitoring. Measured against
the extent of these controls, the number of sanc-
tion cases the sanction board had to deal with
during the same year was pleasingly low. This
shows that the scheme participants take their
commitment to safe food and participation in
the QS scheme seriously.
SAFETY NOTE
QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
SANCTION BOARD
CONSISTENT ACTION AGAINST VIOLATIONS
Sanction Procedures
Extract of K.O. Evaluations:
■
Use of authorized plant protection
products/active substances
■
Implementation of corrective measures
■
Risk analysis and hygiene requirements
■
Compliance with maximum residue
quantities
■
Compliance with waiting times
■
Conducting/documentation of
self-assessments
■
Approval of suppliers
Information on Quaternary
Ammonium Compounds (QAC)
■
Large, heterogeneous group of substances
■
Economically relevant: benzalkonium
chloride and didecyldimethyl ammonium
chloride
QAC belong to the group of
cationic surfactants:
Mode of action:
■
Enrich themselves in the fatty cell
membranes of living organisms
■
Disrupt normal functioning of the cell
membrane
■
Biocidal effect of cationic surfactants
above all
Area of application:
■
Plant protection products and disinfectants
■
Softeners, care products, textile auxiliaries