Contamination prevention

How do I identify risk areas for contamination?

There are several scenarios that you might flag as at risk for contamination. Areas we often flag include:

• Split or parallel production (handling both organic and nonorganic ingredients)
  • Reusing containers, shared equipment, shared storage spaces,
• Material usage
  • Cleaners, sanitizers, pest control products
• Facility storing both organic and conventional ingredients
• Reuse of containers that store organic and non-organic product
• Sanitization of equipment and surface areas
• Areas where prohibited materials are stored or applied
• Equipment used for both organic and non-organic products
• Shared facilities used by several businesses
• Transportation

What are some contamination prevention strategies?

Each operation will need to meet unique needs with appropriate contamination prevention strategies. The first step is to take plenty of time to create best practices for higher risk areas. Common strategies for prevention include:

• Clear designation of storage areas for organic products, pest control substances, and cleaners
• Sealed, tamper evident and labeled packaging for shipping (when possible)
• Verification that transporters follow organic sanitation practices
• Plans for elimination and removal of cleaning and sanitizing residue