Developing official control in slaughterhouses through internal audits. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luukkanen, Jenni; Nevas, Mari; Fredriksson-Ahomaa, Maria; Lundén, Janne
• Is Part Of: Food control. Volume 90(2018)
• Page Start: 344
• Page End: 351
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Non-conformity -- Meat inspection -- Food safety inspection -- Non-compliance -- Correction; Food -- Quality -- Periodicals; Food -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Food handling -- Periodicals; Food industry and trade -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Industrie et commerce -- Qualité -- Contrôle -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Qualité -- Périodiques; Aliments -- Analyse -- Périodiques; Hygiène alimentaire -- Périodiques; Food -- Analysis; Food handling; Food -- Quality; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 664.07
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2018.03.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0956-7135

Abstract

Abstract: In the European Union, competent authorities are obligated to arrange audits to ensure that the official control (comprising meat and food safety inspections) in slaughterhouses is performed according to legislation. Previous information on the functionality of these audits and on non-conformities observed in the official control of slaughterhouses is limited. In this study, non-conformities of the official control of slaughterhouses and their correction were analysed from the internal audit reports of the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira. To further assess the benefits and needs for improvement of the audits, we conducted interviews with the chief official veterinarians (OVs) responsible for the controls in slaughterhouses and the auditors of Evira. According to our results, non-conformities, especially in the inspection of intestines of bovines and swine, were common. Regarding food safety inspections, OVs should develop their documentation, perform the follow-up of the correction of non-compliances more systematically, and improve the enforcement, especially in smaller red meat slaughterhouses. Based on our results, internal audits appeared to be beneficial, as non-conformities in the official control were noticed, most non-conformities were corrected or corrective measures had been taken, and the audits were assessed as necessary by both the auditors and auditees. Our results can be utilized in improving the official control and audit procedures in slaughterhouses. In the future, the uniformity of meat inspection could be improved by auditing also differences in the rejections and their reasons between official auxiliaries in post-mortem inspection. Highlights: Internal audits induced correction of non-conformities in official control. Internal audits supported official veterinarians (OVs) in demanding corrections. Non-conformities in inspection of intestines of red meat animals were common. Documentation of food safety inspections was insufficient in many slaughterhouses. OVs required more thorough and unifying auditing of meat inspection.