The International Dairy Federation (IDF) recently published a new guidance document to help the dairy industry conduct in-process product sampling that produces accurate and actionable microbiological data.
In-process sampling during dairy production and processing is critical for hygiene management, process monitoring, and microbiological risk management. Quality Managers use sampling plan results to check if microbiological specifications are met. Sampling data can also help identify in-process microbiological variances that may indicate biofilms, cracks, or pinholes in stainless steel or gaskets leading to product spoilage or pathogen contamination.