New time-saving environmental monitoring software
Monitoringz is a multi-user application that allows for statistical and graphical trending of results by sampling locations as well as easy and logical input of sampling matrix so that the results can be processed in a meaningful way, software maker Zlatko Matic told FoodProductionDaily.com. "In order to be trended, sampling results of microbial cleanliness and the number of airborne particles in clean production areas must be sorted by key of sampling locations. This is something that is often forgotten," said Zlatko Matic. Keeping records is an essential part of hygiene procedures based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. Timely sampling and reporting enables food manufacturers to determine and prevent contamination in the early stages so that the quality of the end-product is ensured and risk of recall from market is lowered. Intuitive reporting The design of Monitoringz 1.2.1, which was published last month, was informed by the developer's background as a technologist responsible for sampling results trending and presentation. "The Monitoringz software has been designed for real-life data reporting and trending based on my personal experience, rather than on theory. It is reporting rich, yet simple and intuitive. Emphasis is put on easy input and powerful reporting of sampling results," added Zlatko Matic. Time-saving functionality The developer claims that the software's predefined reports feature, combined with other functions such as user-friendly searching and filtering of sampling data in datasheet reports and an interactive data survey form, means manual data trending by staff will no longer be required: "Employees will be freed up to concentrate on other areas and the overall system of microbial contamination prevention will be more reliable and effective," claims the software maker. Monitoringz consists of two parts: database back-end PostgreSQL server and client front-end interface in Microsoft Access. It is available for download on http://matalab.freehostia.com/ Food Alerts Food safety is an ongoing concern for food processors, regulators and consumers alike, with the European Commission identifying six food alerts last week; aflatoxins, mycotoxins and salmonella were found in European food supplies, according to data from Europe's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Alert notifications, sent by member states to the Commission, are triggered when food, or feed, presenting a serious risk to the consumer is available on the market. HACCP guidelines HACCP is a systematic preventative approach to food safety aiming to spot physical, chemical and biological hazards during the manufacturing process, rather than at final product inspection. The Food Standards Agency in the UK, which advocates HACCP, lists the seven guiding principals as follows:
- Identification of hazards that must be prevented, eliminated or reduce
- Identification of critical control points (CCPs), at the stages at which control is essential
- Establishment of critical limits at CCPs
- Establishment of procedures to monitor CCPs
- Establishment of corrective actions to be taken if a CCP is not under control
- Establishment of procedures to verify whether the above procedures are working
- Establishment of documents and records to demonstrate the effective application of the above measures.
