Validation of cleanup actions

Cleaning methods and procedures such as dry cleaning, wet cleaning, etc., must be verified and validated when the same food handling and processing equipment is being used in several productions, regardless of whether they are allergenic or non-allergenic products.

In addition, it is necessary to quantitatively specify the level of allergen migration from an allergenic food to a non-allergenic food, in order to carry out an assessment to identify potential risks and if possible reduce them.

Validation studies should be conducted to ensure that the procedures followed to prevent cross-contamination between allergenic and non-allergenic products are fulfilling their purpose and allow mitigating risks.

Definitions:

• Validation: is carried out through the performance of objective tests and analyses that validate that allergenic product changes on the same production line have been performed satisfactorily.

• Verification: is carried out by conducting objective examinations and analyses that confirm that the procedures to be followed during the changeover of allergen products on the same production line have been complied with at all times.

The validation process usually incl