Food safety audit: practical guide and useful tips

In the food sector, safety is a top priority and every aspect of production must meet strict standards. Using certified and compliant lubricants helps prevent contamination and successfully pass a food audit. From choosing the right food-grade lubricant to managing documentation, adopting best practices ensures operational efficiency and protects the quality of finished products.

Guidelines for an effective food safety audit

Food safety audits today are more complex than ever, each with specific requirements. This article lists some basic steps to help you prepare:

• What is needed to address the lubricants section within the food safety audit.
• Best practices to be incorporated into standard operating procedures to increase the likelihood of success.
• Third-party documentation and certifications required during the food safety audit.

What to prepare for the lubricant audit part

Whether the food safety audit covers certifications ISO, GFSI, IFS Food, SQF, AIB International, FDA or a customer’s internal standards, compliance has become increasingly important to customers, consumers and the company’s brand value.

When preparing for the lubricant portion of the audit, there are common elements to follow regardless of the type of inspection. Key steps include:

• A thorough documentation.
• L’proper use and appropriate use of food lubricants.
• A valid operational process to avoid cross-contamination between lubricants and foods.
  

Very important in these cases is to always check the specific requirements for each type of audit.

Product Certifications

During a food safety audit you may be required to demonstrate that lubricating oils and greases used meet certain standards.

For food grade lubricants, additional statements may need to be provided regarding allergens, dietary restrictions , or the presence of genetically modified ingredients (GMOs).

Documents of compliance with religious or local certifications, such as Kosher o Halal. In these cases, spesso just contact your supplier to get the updated certificates.

On average, a food plant uses between 20 to 60 lubricant products. Therefore, sand you have an established lubrication program, with fewer products and a single supplier, obtaining the required documentation will be easier and faster.

The documentation to be submitted for a food safety audit

• Preventive maintenance plan: is essential to demonstrate compliance with the guidelines.
• Cross-reference report: before a food safety audit, it is a good idea to prepare a detailed list of lubricants used, organized by equipment type , application and frequency of use. This demonstrates to the auditor that the correct and certified lubricants are used for the intended applications.
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS): it is important to keep them for all products in use.
• Personnel training records: serve as evidence that personnel have been trained in the proper use and handling of lubricants.
• Product labels: review is critical, especially if food grade and non-food grade lubricants are used. Prepare an explanation of the system adopted to distinguish products and prevent contamination, and ensure that all packages are legibly and durably labeled. This process should be carefully controlled because it is common for labels to become damaged or peel off due to oily surfaces or frequent handling.

Safe storage and handling practices

During the food safety audit, inspectors are likely to visit the plant to assess:

• Production areas.
• The places where unused lubricants are stored.
• Technical rooms with equipment using lubricants

In addition to the general state of cleanliness and orderliness, auditors will verify that there is a clear distinction between food grade lubricants (e.g., H1, HT1) and those non-food grade, ensuring that there are controls to prevent misuse.

Food safety is at risk if a non-food grade lubricant is used in an application that requires a certified product.

In order not to be found unprepared for these checks there are some recommended solutions including the use of:

• Dedicated tanks and pumps.
• Drums with dedicated pumps.
• Sealed containers for transport.
• Filtration, airtight containers, caps with desiccant breathers (desiccant breathers) to avoid airborne contamination and ensure product purity until use.

Continued good operating practices

Tackling a food safety audit is much easier if the team is already prepared. Here’s why it’s helpful to integrate these measures into the standard operating procedures of the ‘plant:

• Regularly monitor the operating environment., documenting where potential cross-contamination risks from lubricants have been identified and resolved.
• Maintain an up-to-date list of lubricants in use, which contains: the nfull name of the product, the area in which it is used, and the amount used.
• Adopt a robust inventory management process, to ensure continuous traceability and control of the lubricant life cycle.
• Document internal safety initiatives., such as: rperiodic reviews of technical and safety data sheets and the verification of certifications.
• Perform simulated audits regularly, to identify and correct any problems before an official inspection.

Petro-Canada food-grade lubricants to ensure safety and high performance

Food grade lubricants Petro-Canada are formulated to provide safety, efficiency and compliance with industry regulations, helping companies pass food audits.

Purity™ FG Grease

The Purity™ FG Grease is an NSF H1-certified, water-resistant grease that is ideal for protecting bearings e gears.

Purity™ FG AW Hydraulic Fluids

This category of lubricants for food machinery consists of hydraulic fluids for handling systems with excellent thermal and oxidative stability. These include:

• PURITY™ FG AW Hydraulic Fluid 32: ideal for low-temperature applications, offers excellent wear protection and long fluid life.
• PURITY™ FG AW Hydraulic Fluid 46: provides reliable performance under moderate load conditions, with excellent resistance to oxidation and deposit formation.
• PURITY™ FG AW Hydraulic Fluid 68: optimized for higher temperature operating environments, maintains high thermal stability and advanced wear protection.
• PURITY™ FG AW Hydraulic Fluid 100: suitable for systems with heavy loads and high pressures, provides superior lubrication and reduced foaming.

Purity™ FG Chain Fluids

The PURITY™ FG Chain Fluids range includes lubricants for chains with high tack, ideal for ovens and conveyor systems. Mascherpa offers two specifically:

• PURITY™ FG Chain Fluid Light.: formulated to provide excellent penetration and anti-wear protection, especially suitable for chains at high speeds and moderate temperatures.
• PURITY™ FG Chain Fluid Heavy: Higher viscosity lubricant, ideal for heavier loading conditions and higher temperatures, providinghigh adhesion and reducing lubricant consumption.

Prepared for IPACK-IMA 2025: solutions and tips for a successful food safety audit

Safety and efficiency in lubrication for the food industry will be among the topics at the center of IPACK-IMA 2025. A unique opportunity to learn about the latest industry innovations and discover cutting-edge solutions to improve regulatory compliance and plant management.

In the meantime, if you would like a comprehensive overview of what it takes to successfully approach an audit, check out our practical guide to food safety auditing: you’ll find useful tips, checklists, and best practices you can apply right away.

To receive support in choosing the right food lubricants for your needs, contact our experts and get a personalized consultation.