This flow chart lists the steps to be followed when food contact surfaces are tested for Listeria monocytogenes. It is recommended to hold the product of sampling day pending receipt of results.
If the food contact surfaces testing is positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a Corrective Action Request is issued and operators are required to conduct corrective actions including intensive sanitation and cleaning, a review of appropriate sections of their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system and perform a follow up test for Listeria species as per Appendix 2 or 3 as soon as possible within 5 production days. Further follow up sampling must be done on the same food contact surfaces on three different days in a maximum of 10 production days. Three consecutive tests must be negative for Listeria species in order for this follow up to be considered satisfactory. Any follow up test positive for Listeria species will trigger product testing from the same lot produced the day of food contact surfaces testing according to Appendix 4 or 5.
If food contact surfaces testing is negative for all Listeria species, normal sampling schedule for food contact surfaces is followed.
If food contact surfaces testing is positive for Listeria species, operators are required to take corrective actions (intensive sanitation and cleaning and review of appropriate sections of their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point system) and perform follow up test for Listeria species as per Appendix 2 or 3 as soon as possible within a maximum of 5 working days. If food contact surfaces testing is negative for Listeria species on this follow up, product may be released and normal sampling schedule for food contact surfaces is continued.
If follow up sampling of the food contact surfaces is positive for Listera species, product from the lot produced when food contact surfaces was sampled as follow up is tested for Listeria monocytogenes according to Appendix 4 or 5 and the operator must take corrective actions as if Listeria monocytogenes had been found on the food contact surfaces (outlined below). Any positive results for Listeria monocytogenes in the product will trigger hold-and-test procedures as outlined in Appendix 7.
M200 and M200RB sampling done concurrently with the M205 and M205RB, respectively, will yield product results that will need to be examined. Any positive results for Listeria monocytogenes in the product will trigger hold-and-test procedures as outlined in Appendix 7.