Animal product processing is an important process that ensures that only the highest quality product is produced. In a modern industry such as dairy or meat, every process must be carefully planned. From the initial selection of animals to the actual packaging and delivery of food products, the entire process needs to be carefully monitored to ensure no compromise of quality in the final product.
Maintenance Chemicals
The term maintenance chemicals’ refers to sanitizers, detergents, and other chemicals used to maintain or clean different equipment and facilities. The Animal Products system regulates the production of maintenance chemicals and requires strict approval for any product you use in dairy or meat processing. This is not to say that the approval process is not required, but it requires a certain amount of diligence and planning on the part of the company you are using. While it is true that animal feedlots and dairy farms can produce a wide variety of products, the Food and Drug Administration does have the power to shut down or suspend all processing activities if the product poses a risk to public health.
Dairy And Meat Market
As dairy and meat are a very sensitive market, the FDA has had many incidents over the years of animal feedlots, slaughterhouses, and dairy farms misusing or mishandling animal products. While these incidents can be upsetting for consumers and the companies that make them, the FDA is also responsible for enforcing these regulations.
A good rule of thumb when it comes to animal product processing is to think about the long-term effects of chemical residues. You want to know what is in your products before you take them to the grocery store. If your processing includes additives or preservatives, check with the company you are purchasing from to find out what their policy is concerning animal growth stimulants. While it may seem common sense to not add any food to your food, some additives, such as growth stimulants, can pose risks to human health and therefore are not allowed by the FDA.
Growth Stimulants Use in Dairy And Meat Based Food
Animal growth stimulants are commonly used in dairy or meat processing and can include E. Coli or salmonella, causing severe illness in humans. Although it may seem like common sense not to add any animal growth enhancers to your foods, animal feedlots and other facilities are not subject to this regulation and so often unknowingly add growth stimulants to their products. Be sure to ask your processor about any additives they use for additional clarification and safety.
Animal Production Facilities
For those animal production facilities that do not use growth enhancers, you may still want to check for traces of E. Coli and Salmonella. These bacteria can be present in any animal feed, but they are most commonly found in chicken and beef. They can be found in water supply, manure, and other animal waste. It is important to remove any animal wastes from your product before the finished product is shipped out. If possible, get samples to test to determine the level of E. Coli or Salmonella that has been introduced.
FDA Workings
The FDA is working closely with other federal agencies to implement controls on animal production facilities around the country. This means that the animal production facility itself will be required to submit its reports to the FDA to monitor its products’ quality. If the reports find a high contamination occurrence, corrective action should be taken as soon as possible. The animal production facility should also be able to provide samples of its finished products for testing.
Final Recommendations
You want to ensure that you have adequate control over animal product processing to ensure the highest quality standards for your product before you ever see it on the shelves. It is easy to control a simple aspect of animal processing with a small amount of extra time and attention, but finding ways to avoid possible problems can make a huge difference for your business.
