Figure 1: Typical process diagram for the production of petfood
Exhaust
Exhaust
Exhaust
Raw material intake
Fines
Raw material
storage &
blending bins
Weighing scale
Grinding plant
Mixing plant
Water Meat Oil/fat
Steam
Steam
Cooling water
1. Surge bin 2. Loss-in-weight live bin 3. Feeder screw 4. Dual conditioning cylinder
5. Cooker/extruder 6. Knife drive 7. Pneumatic conveying system 8. 2-pass dryer 9. Dryer dust control system
Fines
10. Dryer discharge belt conveyor 11. Sieve 12. Weigh belt/surge hopper assembly
13. Vacuum coater
14. Liquid digest feed system
15. Oil/fat feed system
16. Powder digest feed system
17. Vertical cooler
Finished product storage
Sieve
Packing plant
Warehouse
Preventing cross-contamination and ensuring product quality begins with logging all data and handling of raw materials throughout the production process.
The final consideration is within the extrusion, drying and packaging process. Traceability, sanitation and quality control measures are important in this area. As with the raw material receiving and mixing/grinding, the ability to trace raw material lots throughout the process is invaluable, specifically after an error in raw material handling has been discovered.
Following strict procedural sanitation and quality control measures and accurately logging that each of these steps has been achieved further reduces your risk of costly mistakes. It also improves your ability to quickly trace and report each step taken if the need for such a report occurs.
Due to recent production issues resulting in costly product recalls, the market is experiencing dramatic changes in which distributors require quick reaction to all inquiries and recalls for individual lots of products. Through appropriate procedures, accompanied by accurate reporting and documentation, a well-designed and implemented system ultimately will strengthen the security and build trust between manufacturers, distributors and end-users. ■
September 2008 Extru-Technician 5
References:
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