Containing a Salmonella Outbreak

Knowing that you must act quickly in a situation involving the contamination of goods, the facility turned to us for our expertise in food safety emergencies.

Challenges

• Containing and removing all contaminated and potentially exposed materials.
• Ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Minimizing financial loss and reputational damage for the client.

Our Approach

Quarantine of Exposed Finished Goods

• Immediately upon notification of the contamination, all potentially affected finished goods were identified and quarantined in a centralized warehouse.
• Lot numbers were tracked to ensure all potentially exposed product was tracked, returned, and inventoried before moving to the disposal process.

Supply Chain Backtracking

• We worked through the supply chain with the customer to identify all work-in-process materials that could have been exposed.
• These materials were collected, isolated, and documented to ensure disposal.

Removal of Suspect Raw Materials

• We coordinated with the plant manager to empty raw material bins suspected of contamination.
• The removal process followed strict regulatory guidelines to prevent cross-contamination.

Comprehensive Documentation Compliance

• A full inventory of quarantined, removed, and destroyed materials was documented.
• Lot numbers were recorded to establish a clear traceability path.
• Affidavits of destruction were provided to the client, ensuring full transparency and compliance.

Outcome & Customer Benefit

• The recall was handled diligently, preventing further distribution of contaminated products.
• The client successfully met all FDA compliance requirements for handling of the recall.
• Our approach minimized financial losses and preserved the client’s reputation.

Conclusion

West Side’s handling of the salmonella contamination showcased our ability to respond rapidly, efficiently, and with full compliance. Our approach to containment, removal, and documentation ensured the integrity of the supply chain and the safety of consumers. This case highlights the importance of having an experienced crisis management team ready to act in food safety emergencies.