2023 Has been a busy year for our Tree Nut Division. Ten CoolSteam black and blue system installations this year alone prove the value customers see in our solutions.
What is an ABC TERP (Technical Expert Review Panel) validation?
There is a growing trend and increased worldwide demand to pasteurize nuts and ensure the product's microbiological safety with organic processes that maintain the organoleptic and nutritional characteristics of the tree nut.
All almonds grown in California and sold within the United States, Canada, and Mexico must be pasteurized using a validated process approved by the Almond Board of California (ABC) TERP. This ensures that the process can achieve at least a 4-log reduction in Salmonella bacteria on almonds, as required by law.
A validation is an important process that confirms whether the control measures at each Critical Control Point are effectively managing and mitigating the identified hazards, particularly for Tree Nuts and salmonella. Validation aims to ensure that the entire Pasteurization system can consistently produce a safe and high-quality product and comply with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
A Critical Control Point (CCP) is a specific point or stage where control can be applied to prevent, eliminate, or reduce a potential hazard to an acceptable level. Critical Control Points are often associated with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), a systematic approach to ensuring food safety.
Laitram's CoolSteam System uses four simple critical control points that simplify the validation process.