Clean Processing Policy & Procedure

CLEAN PROCESSING POLICY & PROCEDURE

At SHILOH FARMS, our commitment to providing wholesome, natural foods is equaled by our commitment to safe, sanitary manufacturing practices. Our Production Team is educated in basic food safety, good manufacturing practices, and allergen recognition. Production Team members are required to wear a fresh, clean smock each day, as well as hair restraints and disposable, non-latex gloves for direct-contact food handling. Routine inspections are performed by our Quality Control Supervisor and by health inspectors on the local, state, and federal levels. We are certified organic and audited by Pennsylvania Certified Organic. We have a written Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) on file.


All Shiloh Farms products are packaged on a Shared Production Line. Our shared line handles both gluten products (wheat, barley, rye, etc.), and products which we consider naturally free of gluten (legumes, dried fruits, nuts, seeds, etc.). There are no special cleanings for other allergens* apart from gluten/wheat. We observe two rotations for packaging products:

• Gluten/Wheat Rotation: Products in this rotation may be certified organic (packaging will bear the USDA Organic designation) or conventional (non-organic.) After all the products on this rotation are packaged, there is thorough cleaning to minimize the risk of cross-contamination (see below) for the naturally gluten-free rotation.

• Naturally Gluten Free Rotation: This rotation handles all naturally gluten-free products that are low risk for cross-contamination, many of which are also certified organic. After a thorough cleaning, the equipment and tables for packaging are tested to 20 ppm before the rotation starts.

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Definitions of cleaning components:

1. General clean-out: Compressed air is used to blow out any debris from equipment; there is a dry wipe down as needed.

2. Complete wash down with Sanitation: Wet cleaning of equipment/tables with approved cleaners, followed by a clean water rinse as per organic certification standards. Approved sanitizers mixed with clean water are applied to all food contact surfaces. Surfaces are air-dried as per local health inspection codes and organic certification standards.

3. Rotational Cleaning: This cleaning is performed between the Wheat/Gluten and the Naturally Gluten-Free Rotations. This is a thorough cleaning of the entire production area, including equipment, bins, tables, chairs, etc.. A general clean-out and complete wash down with sanitation will take place.

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Rotational Cleaning Practices are:

Organic Gluten/Wheat: Before any organic products are packaged, a rotational cleaning (general cleanout and complete wash down with sanitation) will take place. All products within this rotation are run consecutively with only a general clean-out performed in between product runs. 

Non-Organic Gluten/Wheat: A general clean-out will occur before any products are packaged. All products within this rotation are run consecutively with only a general clean-out performed in between product runs. 

Organic Naturally Gluten-Free: Before any gluten-free, organic product is packaged, a rotational cleaning (general cleanout and complete wash down with sanitation) will take place. The equipment and tables used for packaging are tested to 20ppm before any products are run. All products within this rotation are run consecutively with only a general clean-out performed in between product runs. 

Non-Organic Naturally Gluten-Free: A general clean-out will occur before any products are packaged. All products within this rotation are run consecutively with only a general clean-out performed in between product runs. 

*Those with Tree Nut Allergies: The Shiloh Farms/PureLiving Tree Nuts are packaged during the Naturally Gluten-Free Rotation. The nuts are packaged as a group using equipment or hand-packed at tables. After packaging the tree nuts, the equipment/tables are visually inspected and a complete wash down with sanitation is performed. We do not package any peanuts in our facility.

*Those with Sesame Allergies: The Shiloh Farms Sesame Seeds are packaged during the Naturally Gluten-Free Rotation. All of the sesame seeds are run through the equipment and are packaged as a group. After packaging the sesame seeds, the equipment is visually inspected and a complete wash down with sanitation is performed. At this time, the sesame seeds and tree nuts are packaged on separate equipment.