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Random samples should be collected from the shipment and examined for contamination either on-the-spot or in the laboratory. |
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Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition Inspecting Incoming Food Materials Industry Activities Staff; Revised January 26, 1999 |
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Random samples should be collected from the shipment and examined for contamination either on-the-spot or in the laboratory. |
REASONS:
1. It is not possible and not practical to examine the contents of every packaged product in the shipment because the package is not saleable after opening and may become contaminated before being used.
2. Random samples that are representative of those in the entire shipment can be relied upon to show if products are acceptable or contaminated.
3. We can get a true picture of the entire lot ONLY if the samples are collected RANDOMLY (that is, every 10th, 12th, 30th, or whatever, depending on the number in the shipment).
If you are given the job to unload and inspect the shipment and no one is available for on-the-spot examination of the contents of packages, ASK YOUR SUPERVISOR FOR INSTRUCTION (Photo a) AS TO THE NUMBER OF CARTONS OR PACKAGES HE WANTS YOU TO TAKE RANDOMLY FROM THE LOAD to set aside for later examination either on-the-spot or in the laboratory. FOLLOW HIS INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY because it is important that samples be collected randomly (Photo b).
If you are assigned to make on-the-spot examinations of collected samples, BE SURE YOU FOLLOW PROPER INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW HOW TO USE ALL OF THE INSPECTION TOOLS LISTED IN THE FRONT OF THIS BOOKLET. ASK YOUR SUPERVISOR FOR MORE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR ON-THE-SPOT OR LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS.
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 b. |
| PROPER SAMPLE COLLECTION AND EXAMINATION WILL HELP PREVENT ACCEPTING CONTAMINATED SHIPMENTS THAT SHOULD BE REJECTED -- DO YOUR PART TO HELP YOUR SUPERVISOR MAKE THE PROPER DECISION. |
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