Bord Bia is the key player in Ireland’s food and drink industry. They play a significant role in ensuring quality standards across food production and agriculture.
To do this, Bord Bia audits assess various aspects of operations. One of the most important elements in these audits is ensuring water quality in food production.
Table of Contents
Who Are Bord Bia?
Bord Bia, or the Irish Food Board, was established on December 1, 1994. The organisation promotes and supports the Irish food, drink, and horticulture industries. Its role includes developing quality standards that businesses in these sectors must meet.
Bord Bia’s Sustainable Assurance Schemes, including the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS), are designed to maintain high food safety and quality standards. Bord Bia perform regular audits to ensure that companies comply with these standards. Included in this audit is water quality testing for food safety.
What Are the Bord Bia Audits?
The Bord Bia Quality Assurance scheme is designed to ensure that food production processes meet the highest standards for quality and safety. It applies to various food sectors, including meat, dairy, horticulture, and more. As part of Bord Bia audits, businesses are required to demonstrate compliance with food and drink safety standards.
Testing water for microbiological contamination is a central aspect of the audit. Failure to comply can result in non-compliance issues, which may harm a business’s reputation and ability to sell its products.
Non-compliances are graded as major or minor. A farm can still pass its audit with minor non-compliances, provided its score is above 60% and the issues are addressed before the next audit.
The Role of Water Testing in Bord Bia Audits
While often overlooked, water quality plays a crucial role in food safety. The Bord Bia Quality Assurance standards specify that water used in food production must be free of certain bacteria. For dairy farmers using a private well, Enterococci and E. coli must be absent in 100ml, and the test must have been conducted within the last 3 years.
Dairy farmers who use a private water well for dairy washing must have evidence of a water test report for microbiological contamination. This is typically done through a Bord Bia-approved water testing service. This test ensures that any water used in food production meets the stringent requirements for safety and hygiene.
What the auditor checks: Bord Bia’s preparation checklist asks dairy farmers who use a private well for milking machine washing to have their most recent microbiological water test results available. Farmers supplied by a group water scheme do not need a water test report.
Note: Bord Bia has reported that missing evidence of a water test is the second most common major non-compliance among dairy farmers.
Who Needs Bord Bia Water Testing?
The Bord Bia Water Test is recommended for anyone involved in food production who is part of the Bord Bia Quality Assurance scheme. This includes:
- Food Manufacturers
- Food Business Operators
- Farmers (especially Dairy Farmers)
- Agricultural Consultants
The test is particularly important for those using private wells for water, such as dairy farmers, as these are often at higher risk for contamination.
Why Is Water Testing Important?
The safety of water used in food production cannot be overstated. Contaminated water can lead to serious foodborne illnesses, which could not only harm consumers but also damage your reputation and business operations. Bord Bia’s strict requirements for water quality ensure that only safe, potable water is used in food production.
By conducting regular water tests, you can ensure compliance with Bord Bia audits, avoid major non-compliances during your audit, and maintain your commitment to producing safe, high-quality food products.
Water Testing in the Food Industry
Water testing requirements in the food industry extend beyond Bord Bia. Under food law, any water used in a food business must meet drinking water (potable) standards. This applies to water used directly as an ingredient, as well as water used indirectly in cleaning or processing.
For food businesses on a public supply, Uisce Éireann tests the water up to the point of compliance, and the business is responsible for risk assessing the supply from that point on. A food business using its own private supply, such as a well, is considered a water supplier. It is responsible for regular microbiological and chemical testing of the supply in a laboratory accredited to ISO 17025. When requested by a food inspector, the business must be able to provide its water sample results and evidence of a risk assessment.
How Southern Scientific Can Help
At Southern Scientific Services, we offer a comprehensive Bord Bia Water Test that ensures your water meets the standards set by Bord Bia. Our service is designed to help businesses comply with the Bord Bia Audits.
With more than 30 years of experience, Southern Scientific is accredited by INAB to ISO 17025 and analyses over 10,000 drinking water samples per year.
Crucially, our test is Bord Bia-approved. Once the test is completed, you will receive a report certifying the results by email within 10 working days. This makes it easy to submit as part of your Bord Bia audit.
