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CPG Sec 527.300 Microbial Contaminants & Alkaline Phosphatase Activity

FinalHuman Foods Program Office of Inspections and Investigations12/23/2010
Good Manufacturing Practices

Description

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for FDA staff regarding its enforcement policies for pathogens and indicators of inadequate pasteurization or post-pasteurization contamination of dairy products.

Key Topics

Terms and concepts identified from this document

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

1
Dairy Products

Product category in CPG 527.300

Stakeholders

1
State regulatory agency

Primary authority for follow-up on IMS listed plants

Regulatory Context

Regulatory Activities

2
Detention without physical examination

DWPE request in import refusal recommendations

Direct reference seizure

Regulatory action for products meeting specific E. coli criteria

Technical Details

Substances

10
Escherichia coli

species that should not be used in dietary supplements

Salmonella species

Pathogen tested in spent sprout irrigation water

Alkaline phosphatase

Enzyme used as an indicator of pasteurization efficacy; Enzyme used as an indicator of pasteurization efficiency.

Bacillus cereus

Microorganism found in contaminated inks that can cause serious infections

Staphylococcus aureus

bacteria that causes TSS

Clostridium botulinum

Pathogen that may grow in reduced oxygen packaging.; spore-forming bacterium found in soil

Yersinia enterocolitica

Pathogen causing gastroenteritis and reactive arthritis

Campylobacter jejuni

bacterium responsible for campylobacteriosis

Listeria monocytogenes

Pathogen found in ready-to-eat produce and cheeses; Emerging microbiological hazard associated with raw pet food.; pathogen that may be introduced during transportation

Escherichia coli O157:H7

Pathogen targeted in alfalfa seeds

Processes

1
Pasteurization

heating procedure used to effectively eliminate L. monocytogenes; historically established process control for milk

Clinical Concepts

1
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

serious complication from EHEC infection

Identified Hazards

Hazards

1
Post-pasteurization contamination

Contamination occurring after the heating process

Standards & References

Specifications

4
2.0 micrograms phenol equivalents per gram

Alkaline phosphatase limit for non-cheese dairy products

10 MPN per gram

Limit for E. coli in two or more subsamples

3 µg/0.25 g

maximum alkaline phosphatase level for certain cheeses

10^4 cfu/g

action level for Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus

Related CFR Sections (5)

See Also (2)

CPG Sec 527.300 Microbial Contaminants & Alkaline Phosphatase Activity | Guideline Explorer | BioRegHub