During the past few years, a number of contamination "incidents" like the recent milk scandal in China, have highlighted the need for an effective system to manage chemical risks in food and beverage production. So how do these industries ensure that lubricating greases are safe to use? Some countries have laws pertaining to this, others let suffice with regulatory guidance. Finding the best way through the complicated labyrinth (a maze in grease ?) of regulations and registrations can therefore be very difficult and confusing. ISO 21469 is a new hygiene standard designed for this very purpose and international regulatory authorities have begun to recognize this new standard. Within the grease community, there are ongoing discussions as to whether this new system really is necessary or whether it just imposes an extra cost. However, in our consumer driven society, large corporations like the major oil companies, with their complex multi-national supply chains, really need effective and diligent safety control systems to ensure the quality of their branded goods. Leading manufacturers of foodstuffs have taken the lead in a trend to proactively implement comprehensive and global safety standards. ISO 21469 will presumably become more and more important when they start adopting such processes to reduce (or preferably eliminate) risks for contamination incidents. The demand for independently audited foodgrade lubricant production is expected to grow, especially in regions with developing food export industries.

So we can hopefully continue to enjoy our food, no matter where it is made.

Anyone for biscuits ??

 Posted 13.07.2009

The strangest stories seldom told

.. include a grease, acrylic mould

To land at sea, a canopy

.. must offer full transparency

If not, alas, our pilots bold

.. will crash in waters dark and cold

To check the grease is flowing free

.. we had to use rheology

Consistency is far too old

.. knowledge worth its weight in gold.

The strangest stories ever told

.. include a grease, acrylic mould,

.. worth it's price a hundred fold.

 Posted 14.07.2009