1. No category

AN EVOLUTION IN THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESS SO AS TO ENSURE GREATER RESPECT
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR WORKING CONDITIONS
Improvements
in SAFE beddings
The whole range of autoclavable diets undergoes a coating process of the granulated feeds with silica (an extremely fine
and volatile product) which reduces clumping during the process of autoclaving.
Up to now, this operation was performed immediately after the cooling process which, itself, followed the granulation of the
products, necessitating a long pneumatic transfer to the bagging process for the feeds (with vertical transportation at a
height of 40 metres).
This installation has been re-arranged in the final section of the process, just before the sifting stage which comes before the
products are put into bags. This is a way to exclude any unwanted dust elements entering in at the early stages of manufacture
and thus constituting a safeguard for our whole process.
We took the opportunity given by this adaptation to protect the incorporation mechanism with a more precise automated
system and to equip the incorporation system in such a way as to give the operators more comfort. All this has been implemented within the framework of our automation programme, to ensure a correct and reproducible working procedure.
Real measures of incorporation of SiO2 (Silica) in the products, before and after the evolution of the process, have been effected.
Tests on the effectiveness of the processing in the autoclave stage have allowed us to assess how effective this adaptation
and the new doses of incorporation are.
The market in beddings became more and more
narrow in terms of supply and quality in France
over the course of 2014. This is down to several
things:
• An ever-greater demand for additional uses and
new markets (heating, absorbents for the floor,
smoking, etc.),
Newsletter
• The disappearance of time-honoured players in
the field.
To ensure quality and a constant supply, for two
years now we have been working well-established
and exclusive partnership with the leading European
manufacturer of beddings for biomedical research
laboratories.
JANUARY 2015
In order to meet your needs, SAFE takes the time to
think about those developments that might bring your
work to an optimum level. In the light of your
comments, we have decided to improve our range
for 2015 by adopting 2 major changes:
EFFICIENT VACUUM PACKING
OF THE PRODUCTS
Vacuum packing the products is still a delicate
operation, since it is subject to a number of
factors, such as the machine settings, the
quality of the films used, the products to be
shrink-sealed (bags that differ in terms of quality,
unit volume, etc.). By this operation, the product
quality has to be guaranteed for you right up
to its arrival at your laboratory.
CHANGE IN THE CONDITIONING OF BEDDINGS
IRRADIATED AT 40 KGY
These beddings are mostly used for animals kept
in isolators. The primary packaging for our beddings
in small-scale conditioning will, in the future, be
made of edible foodstuff cellulose which will,
just as it is at the moment, be vacuum sealed
(double pass with the indicator of irradiation)
and packed in a cardboard box.
PRODUCT LISTING JRS WOOD SHAVINGS
Spruce wood shavings of very high quality, even more
aerated, with a very low dust ratio, stored in bags of
7 kg to be even easier to stock.
This new conditioning will, in particular, allow
you to:
• Perform less handling in the isolator (the primary
plastic sleeve won’t have to be taken off any
more),
• Fine tuning of the various temperatures for
the moulding of plastics and the sealing of the
seams between the films.
• Use the primary packaging as enrichment if you
wish, by bringing it into direct contact with the animals.
Three of our products have seen an optimisation in
their packaging of more than 33%. This, in itself,
makes possible a gain in transportation for everyone involved and a reduction in the environmental
impact.
• Litière Plus BK 8-15-40 (D0757P00Z) switching
to vacuum-sealed sachets 10 x 400g –primary
packaging in edible cellulose.
• Toplit Select Fine-40 (D1071P00Z) switching to
vacuum-sealed sachets 10 x 400g – primary
packaging in edible cellulose.
• Toplit Select Fine-40 (D1075P00Z) switching
to vacuum-sealed sachets 2*2 kg.
Allow for a phase-in period for the product to do
with stock turnover.
With an aim to improve this process even
more, numerous test and analytical studies
were carried out over the years 2013 and
2014. We’d like to take this occasion to
thank all those of you who allowed us to test
certain solutions, even if not all of them then
went on to be certified. This work resulted,
nonetheless, in many developments which
have been implemented this year:
• Controls and settings for calibrating the
vacuums during the sealing phases.
• The implementation of counter-blades to
give a more accurate guide for the cutting.
• The choice of a single supplier for the various
types of film.
ANALYSES OF BEDDING PRODUCTS CARRIED
OUT BY INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES
These three-monthly microbiological and
physico-chemical analyses guarantee for you the
absence of any contaminants.
They are available by e-mail on request: simply
address info@safe-diets.com.
All these different and specific tasks proper to
the vacuum-sealing operations have been
accompanied by a re-alignment of the setting
paper in the packing chests. By adopting a
cross-shape setting, we have reduced the risks
of vacuum-sealed pockets being chafed during
maintenance operations.
In the near future, and linked to the visual
developments of the chests (our new SAFE
logo being incorporated), you will see a
special control window appearing in the vacuumsealed products, which will allow you to check
on and be assured of the perfect quality level
of the products on delivery.
Upon quality commitments
NEW PAPER BAGGING FORMAT
After more than 12 years of good and loyal services, our bagging section will take on
the new developments made in our graphics card.
It will undergo just a few stylistic and textual adaptations, without altering its main
characteristics (composition, shapes and ergonometrics, food contact approval,
dimensions; weight, etc.).
We’d like to remind you that all our bags are fitted with an easy opening (without scissors
or cutters needed) and are made of paper approved for contact with foods. The double
bags (controlled and irradiated) are ‘strippable’ and include traceability info down to
the inner bag.
You will also see a new logo appearing on the irradiated bags: this is the
international logo to identify those products that have been subjected to an
ionising process (gamma or electron streaming).
For some time already, it is possible to find the batch number written on one of the
sides of the bag, next to the diet name. This will allow you to make an added visual
identification of the products.
FLASH NEWS
SAFE DIETS ASIA
SAFE is developing its business in ASIA. A second participation in AFLAS
2014 (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia) as exhibitor and the success of this trade
fair has strengthened our resolve in this project.
CUSTOM DIETS SATISFACTION SURVEY
In order to provide an ever better service, we have to get to know you better, too. It is for this end
that we carried out a customer satisfaction survey in our Custom Diets and I want especially to
thank those among you who took part in this. The survey allowed us to get a clearer idea of expectations in what is our growth sector.
Over the course of 2015, we shall be implementing a number of procedures aimed at giving us
more profile in this field and enabling us to exchange ideas and impressions with the diets’ users.
REGULATORY EVOLUTION
In terms of additive, the European Union imposes a regular review of the effectiveness of nutritional ingredients. In that framework, Inositol improperly classified as vitamin, but not biologically recognized
as such by nutritionists, has been the subject of a review of its biological interest. In 2014, EFSA assessments have not identified any technical efficiency and interest provided that ingredient in synthetic
form. Accordingly, carbocyclic compound, naturally in plants (particularly in cereals under phytate) is
no longer allowed to be added as an additive in feeds. The European Regulation 1249/2014 limits
its use in fish feeds. Feed for other animals are not allowed to receive Inositol and its synthetic derivatives
as of June 2015. In compliance with European regulations, in accordance with the SAFE transparency
commitments, we inform you that from 1st June 2015, production of SAFE diets will not incorporate
this feed additive. This involves: autoclavable rodent diets, guinea pig and primate diets. They will be
marketed as of July 2015.
Sources EFSA : European Food and Safety Agency.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/fr/efsajournal/pub/3671.htm
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R1249&rid=1.
It’s my pleasure to introduce this ‘SAFE Newsletter’ which, as always, sets itself off by concentrating
on the concept of quality. You all know what commitment and energy we put into accomplishing
our goals and reducing ‘the diet factor’. Your questions and your ever more defined expectations
allow us to carry on making progresses.
In November 2013, Sylvain Tuller, R&D engineer,
joined the SAFE team. One of his objectives is to
enhance the results derived from effective past efforts.
Several lines of research and in-depth analysis have
been undertaken.
In the first instance, a retrospective analysis of all the
available data has been initiated with an aim to
show the long term effectiveness of our commitments.
Dominique Martel and Sylvain Tuller are going to
outline for you just a few of these results.
On the industrial side of things, several improvements
have been brought to completion, in particular,
regarding the autoclavable products and in the vacuum
packing process (an improved cardboard which will
allow you to test product quality while still in its
vacuum seal). On the packaging side, we shall be
presenting the design of our new bags to you, to be
implemented over the course of 2015.
We are now perfecting our offer by proposing, for
example, an improved packaging for the beddings
used in isolators.
The range of beddings and enrichementenjoyed a
great success in 2014, something which confirms
the wisdom of our choices.
SAFE team
Route de Saint Bris 89290, Augy
France
T: +33(0)3 86 53 76 90
I wish all of you an excellent 2015, full of health and
happiness. I hope you woken up on Christmas Day
to find a stocking filled with plans and projects that
you will go on to achieve.
For
more informations,www.safe-diets.com
please conctat us
info@safe-diets.com
Which controls and
what are the results ?
SAFE’s will and purpose to master Quality in its products
requires a considerable control programme and numerous
samples taken. In 2013, SAFE analysed more than 35,000
physical, chemical and bacteriological criteria related to these
raw materials and finished products. This commitment to
Quality amounts to the simple fact that, on average, each
batch of SAFE diet is assessed on the basis of more than 145
analytical parameters. This same analytical control is performed
in continuous manner and/or at random; it is carried out in
partnership with leading laboratories, each in their respective
field (nutritional chemistry, nitrate contaminants, etc.) with
authorisation issued by COFRAC [The French Certification
body].
It should be said that this important analytical programme is
completed by:
• chemical or bacteriological checks to assess the metrological
compliance of the production processes,
• and by tailor-made studies aimed at assessing innovations
that might improve the quality of the products, sometimes
conducted in partnership with others.
THE ANALYSES
The reliability of the tools of research is fundamental to the
way biomedical and biological studies should be conducted.
Stemming from this, mastering control of the living conditions
for animals bred for experimentation and their diet constitutes
one of the key links in this chain of control. In order to
ensure Stability and Quality in the diets distributed to the
laboratory animals, SAFE produces diets that implement
important procedures to ensure Food Quality and Safety:
the training of personnel, the choice of suppliers, hygiene,
the standardisation of processes, Quality Control, Quality
Assurance. Analytical Control represents a major and
permanent tool for monitoring the finished products. In
order to guarantee the Quality of its products, SAFE controls
all the diet batches produced and does this at various stages
of the process.
This monitoring consists, first and foremost, in checking the
production information regarding the batch. Each time
ingredients are weighed, this is recorded and validated. A
direct online check is also made on the physical quality of
the product by the operator. A sampling programme makes
it possible to collect samples at different stages of the
process and at several points. These multiple samples are
recorded and kept (in a vacuum seal) by Quality Control
for a period of 2 years.
SAFE commits itself to a long-term working relationship with
its suppliers, mainly French, and this with an aim to preventing
or anticipating health and food-safety issues. Nonetheless,
the action of controlling ingredients remains a key step in
maintaining control over the Quality of the products.
Selecting and controlling the ingredients incorporated in the
diets constitutes an important factor in managing the quality
of the finished products. Monitoring is assured by effecting
controls on receipt of the raw materials, which comes down
to performing physico-chemical checks as to:
• the absence of impurities or any foreign bodies,
• respect for nutritional values: proteins, starch, fats, calcium,
phosphor, vitamin values, etc.
• the level of biological or chemical contaminants present:
microbiological analyses, heavy metals, mycotoxins, dioxins,
melamines, etc.
All this data allows us to establish with certainty the compliance
of SAFE products with regulations and with the specific
requirements of the animal facilities. This Quality commitment
leads to the identification of any possible non compliance.
These products are subjected to an organised and specialised
type of processing.
MASTERING QUALITY
This surveillance data on the raw materials allows us to anticipate
any non-compliance in the finished products, to continually
improve the quality of the ingredients and to set up a strict
monitoring process with the suppliers. And this control is
completed by our taking an active part in the Food Quality and
Safety networks developed by the European Union (such as
RASFF – Rapid Alert System For Food and Feed) or else by
liaising with National bodies. At the end of this Newsletter, you
will find examples of recent alerts that might concern the diets
for laboratory animals.
Added to this monitoring of the ingredients, one should not forget
the systematic checks carried out on all the SAFE diets batches.
These are performed, in particular, by the QUALITY CONTROL
department:
• Measurements of the granulation of the flours, which is an
indicator of a grinding process having been fully mastered and
is necessary for there to be constant digestibility of the products.
• Measurements of the hardness, resistance to abrasion,
weights and sizes of the granules, since these parameters
allow one to objectively assess the working methods of the
granulation process. They also provide information as to how
the granules behave during the various stages of being kept
in the animal section, as well as at the moment of distributing
the granules to the animals.
• Measurements of the humidity levels and water activity
(AW): these criteria allow one to assess the quality of the
drying-cooling process. They also contribute to the quality
of the finished product during storage and use. This data is
all the more important at SAFE since we prohibit the use of
preservatives.
• A systematic chemical control of the products by
spectrophotometry.
These, then, are the objective indicators of the stability
and control exercised over our processes.
The constant results obtained are themselves proof of the
quality of SAFE products. The latest synthesis in the Nutritional
and Contaminants levels shows that all the analyses and
products comply with the control programme as it was drawn
up, with regulations and with the SAFE norms. They demonstrate
the constancy of the nutritional levels and the reduced weight
of contaminants. This data brings with it a guarantee of our
control of health risks to animals and users alike, who come
into contact with the diets.
With respect to the nutritional content, the monitoring of protein
and fat levels shows a good degree of stability in these
nutriments over the course of time. The variations observed
are lower than analytical uncertainty and reproducibility.
They’re of course lower than the variations admitted by regulations
and lowoer than the ones promoted by GV-SOLAS.
Controlling the sources of the ingredients, the choice of raw
materials with low biochemical variations, the design of the
formulation and the diversification of the ingredients it is
made of, all go to explain these observations. Rigorousness
in dosing the ingredients, the process capacity, metrology
and the level of tolerance in non-compliance in production
also contribute to the low levels of variation in the nutritional
values of the finished products. This data illustrates the complying
of fixed diet formula concept to the biochemical contraints of
raw materials and meet the need for a constantly reliable
tool to be deployed in the experimental protocols.
The scientific procedures constitute a very considerable
investment in both human and technical terms. Acquiring full
control over the diets requires regular vigilance and perfect
traceability. The source of the ingredients and the implementation
of the processes meet these requirements, the analytical
information available making it possible to control and to
confidently confirm the respect of these requirements. Collaboration
with the analytical laboratories is essential in defining the
quality of the SAFE finished products. This partnership allows
us to innovate in terms of nutritional know-how and in diet
quality: it constitutes an essential commitment on our part in
order to bring you the best possible guarantees.
ANALYTICAL CRITERIA
5 Years
Samples*
5 Years
average*
20
AVERAGE VALUES AND
TYPICAL DIVERGENCES
Variation
Coefficient
(%)
Analytical
Uncertaincy
(+/- or %)
GV SOLAS
limits**
EU Regulations
Limits***
A03 Proteins
10
21.50 %
0,43
2
+/- 0.6
[19.5 ;24.5]%
[18.81 ;24.19]%
A03 Fat
10
5.15%
0,24
4.7
+/-1
[4.35 ;6.35]%
[4.15 ;7.15]%
A03 Potassium
10
8582ppm
523
6.1
10%
[7295 ;10513]ppm
[6582 ;12582]ppm
A04 Proteins
35
15.90%
0,43
2.7
+/-0.6
[14.31 ;18.29]%
[14.1 ;18.1]%
A04 Fat
34
3.06%
0,27
8.8
+/-1
[2.26 ;4.26]%
[2.06 ;5.06]%
A04 Potassium
33
6172 ppm
404
6.5
10%
[5172 ;7672]ppm
[4172 ;10172]ppm
* Sources SAFE
**threshold calculated in accordance with GV-SOLAS, Guidelines for the Quality - Assured Production of Laboratory Animal Diets, EN A-06-2002
***threshold calculated in accordance with RÈGLEMENT (CE) No 767/2009 from EUROPEAN PARLEMENT AND CONSEIL of july 13th 2009
15
in the raw protein in diets
A03 and A04 over time.
10
A04
A03
5
The recommendations made by FDA and GV-Solas regarding
contaminants provide an initial framework for controlling the
chemical and bacteriological risks to do with laboratory animal
diets. It does not, however, take into account the identification
of new risks. SAFE, which committed itself very early on to
Quality in its products, is pursuing this work of assessing food
risks.
Under this head, we monitor a whole expanded list of pesticides
which includes controlling new phytosanitary processes. The
same analytical control procedure is also carried out on the
list of nitrosamines: their concentrations are close to the
thresholds of quantification. The quality of the protein sources
and of fish protein especially, goes to explain the complete
control exercised over this family of contaminants. In the case
of Mycotoxins, monitoring now covers almost 19 molecules.
An in-depth study on the subject of Mycotoxins and Phytoestrogens
is available on our website at www.safe-diets.com.
ON A03 AND A04 / REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, LABORATORY UNCERTAINTIES/ GV-SOLAS REQUIREMENTS
5 Years
Standard
deviation*
25
%0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
SAFE’s technical service department remains at your disposal for
any more information or clarification you may need on these subjects,
simply by contacting: info@safe-diets.com
REINFORCED CONTROLS ON THE INSTALLATIONS
AND A BETTER INTEGRATION OF THE PRINCIPLE
OF TRACEABILITY
SAFE IS ABLE TO AVAIL ITSELF OF AN ALERT
NETWORK FOR CONTROLLING AND PREVENTING
RISKS TO THE FOOD SAFETY OF YOUR DIETS
The surveillance networks are an essential support and back-up
for controlling the Quality of SAFE’s finished products. It allows us
to transmit information very quickly regarding chemical and
bacteriological contaminants linked to the ingredients imported
into Europe or else in transit within the European Community. The
list given below corresponds to recent alerts that might affect the
diets for laboratory animals: SAFE is not affected by any of these.
• Italy signalled a level of arsenic which was too high (253 ppm)
in the manganese oxide coming from India.
• Germany signalled the presence of metalaxyl (0.4 ppm) and
thiamethoxam (2.3 ppm) in Organic sunflower cakes coming
from the Netherlands..
• Finland and the United Kingdom detected the presence of
Chloramphenicol (440 ppb) in enzymatic preparations coming
from India and aimed at human consumption.
Following the publication of the decree of 27 November 2014
raising the risk level in the highly pathogenic Asian bird ‘flu
to “moderate” over all of Metropolitan France, the Ministry published
two safety notices on 4 December 2014 stating the applicable
measures to be taken in terms of surveillance and prevention. Since
it is not at all present in the farm livestock’s or in natural reserves or
zoos, SAFE is not affected by this alert.
Route de Saint Bris 89290, Augy
France
T: +33(0)3 86 53 76 90
The last stage of the manufacturing process, bagging the diets,
requires very special care, focussed on controlling that the product
remains intact and the information as to its traceability, which you
will have access to.
In order to improve these two points even more, we have implemented
an investment programme around the twin axes of mechanical and
software development.
All of the diets storage silos, prior to the bagging stage, have been
fitted with control and cleaning hatches in their lower sections. This
allows the operators to ensure a complete and perfect emptying of
the silos as well as the cleanliness of the installations before they are
used again for storing new batches of diets.
This new working procedure, performed systematically with each
emptying of the silo, is also controlled and safeguarded by the
production software system (e.g. data on the cleaning operations).
These advances have also made it possible for us to put four new
silos into service for storing finished products, whilst ensuring the
greatest possible flexibility and protection for the instrument itself and
its operation.
Parallel to this new installation, the computerisation of the bagging
production line has meant, in addition, the automatic transfer of the
traceability data for the operating system to the various machines
and printers along the production line, thus avoiding the need for
different types of information to be entered manually, such as the
name of the diet, the shelf life and the batch number.
For
more informations,www.safe-diets.com
please conctat us
info@safe-diets.com
Which controls and
what are the results ?
SAFE’s will and purpose to master Quality in its products
requires a considerable control programme and numerous
samples taken. In 2013, SAFE analysed more than 35,000
physical, chemical and bacteriological criteria related to these
raw materials and finished products. This commitment to
Quality amounts to the simple fact that, on average, each
batch of SAFE diet is assessed on the basis of more than 145
analytical parameters. This same analytical control is performed
in continuous manner and/or at random; it is carried out in
partnership with leading laboratories, each in their respective
field (nutritional chemistry, nitrate contaminants, etc.) with
authorisation issued by COFRAC [The French Certification
body].
It should be said that this important analytical programme is
completed by:
• chemical or bacteriological checks to assess the metrological
compliance of the production processes,
• and by tailor-made studies aimed at assessing innovations
that might improve the quality of the products, sometimes
conducted in partnership with others.
THE ANALYSES
The reliability of the tools of research is fundamental to the
way biomedical and biological studies should be conducted.
Stemming from this, mastering control of the living conditions
for animals bred for experimentation and their diet constitutes
one of the key links in this chain of control. In order to
ensure Stability and Quality in the diets distributed to the
laboratory animals, SAFE produces diets that implement
important procedures to ensure Food Quality and Safety:
the training of personnel, the choice of suppliers, hygiene,
the standardisation of processes, Quality Control, Quality
Assurance. Analytical Control represents a major and
permanent tool for monitoring the finished products. In
order to guarantee the Quality of its products, SAFE controls
all the diet batches produced and does this at various stages
of the process.
This monitoring consists, first and foremost, in checking the
production information regarding the batch. Each time
ingredients are weighed, this is recorded and validated. A
direct online check is also made on the physical quality of
the product by the operator. A sampling programme makes
it possible to collect samples at different stages of the
process and at several points. These multiple samples are
recorded and kept (in a vacuum seal) by Quality Control
for a period of 2 years.
SAFE commits itself to a long-term working relationship with
its suppliers, mainly French, and this with an aim to preventing
or anticipating health and food-safety issues. Nonetheless,
the action of controlling ingredients remains a key step in
maintaining control over the Quality of the products.
Selecting and controlling the ingredients incorporated in the
diets constitutes an important factor in managing the quality
of the finished products. Monitoring is assured by effecting
controls on receipt of the raw materials, which comes down
to performing physico-chemical checks as to:
• the absence of impurities or any foreign bodies,
• respect for nutritional values: proteins, starch, fats, calcium,
phosphor, vitamin values, etc.
• the level of biological or chemical contaminants present:
microbiological analyses, heavy metals, mycotoxins, dioxins,
melamines, etc.
All this data allows us to establish with certainty the compliance
of SAFE products with regulations and with the specific
requirements of the animal facilities. This Quality commitment
leads to the identification of any possible non compliance.
These products are subjected to an organised and specialised
type of processing.
MASTERING QUALITY
This surveillance data on the raw materials allows us to anticipate
any non-compliance in the finished products, to continually
improve the quality of the ingredients and to set up a strict
monitoring process with the suppliers. And this control is
completed by our taking an active part in the Food Quality and
Safety networks developed by the European Union (such as
RASFF – Rapid Alert System For Food and Feed) or else by
liaising with National bodies. At the end of this Newsletter, you
will find examples of recent alerts that might concern the diets
for laboratory animals.
Added to this monitoring of the ingredients, one should not forget
the systematic checks carried out on all the SAFE diets batches.
These are performed, in particular, by the QUALITY CONTROL
department:
• Measurements of the granulation of the flours, which is an
indicator of a grinding process having been fully mastered and
is necessary for there to be constant digestibility of the products.
• Measurements of the hardness, resistance to abrasion,
weights and sizes of the granules, since these parameters
allow one to objectively assess the working methods of the
granulation process. They also provide information as to how
the granules behave during the various stages of being kept
in the animal section, as well as at the moment of distributing
the granules to the animals.
• Measurements of the humidity levels and water activity
(AW): these criteria allow one to assess the quality of the
drying-cooling process. They also contribute to the quality
of the finished product during storage and use. This data is
all the more important at SAFE since we prohibit the use of
preservatives.
• A systematic chemical control of the products by
spectrophotometry.
These, then, are the objective indicators of the stability
and control exercised over our processes.
The constant results obtained are themselves proof of the
quality of SAFE products. The latest synthesis in the Nutritional
and Contaminants levels shows that all the analyses and
products comply with the control programme as it was drawn
up, with regulations and with the SAFE norms. They demonstrate
the constancy of the nutritional levels and the reduced weight
of contaminants. This data brings with it a guarantee of our
control of health risks to animals and users alike, who come
into contact with the diets.
With respect to the nutritional content, the monitoring of protein
and fat levels shows a good degree of stability in these
nutriments over the course of time. The variations observed
are lower than analytical uncertainty and reproducibility.
They’re of course lower than the variations admitted by regulations
and lowoer than the ones promoted by GV-SOLAS.
Controlling the sources of the ingredients, the choice of raw
materials with low biochemical variations, the design of the
formulation and the diversification of the ingredients it is
made of, all go to explain these observations. Rigorousness
in dosing the ingredients, the process capacity, metrology
and the level of tolerance in non-compliance in production
also contribute to the low levels of variation in the nutritional
values of the finished products. This data illustrates the complying
of fixed diet formula concept to the biochemical contraints of
raw materials and meet the need for a constantly reliable
tool to be deployed in the experimental protocols.
The scientific procedures constitute a very considerable
investment in both human and technical terms. Acquiring full
control over the diets requires regular vigilance and perfect
traceability. The source of the ingredients and the implementation
of the processes meet these requirements, the analytical
information available making it possible to control and to
confidently confirm the respect of these requirements. Collaboration
with the analytical laboratories is essential in defining the
quality of the SAFE finished products. This partnership allows
us to innovate in terms of nutritional know-how and in diet
quality: it constitutes an essential commitment on our part in
order to bring you the best possible guarantees.
ANALYTICAL CRITERIA
5 Years
Samples*
5 Years
average*
20
AVERAGE VALUES AND
TYPICAL DIVERGENCES
Variation
Coefficient
(%)
Analytical
Uncertaincy
(+/- or %)
GV SOLAS
limits**
EU Regulations
Limits***
A03 Proteins
10
21.50 %
0,43
2
+/- 0.6
[19.5 ;24.5]%
[18.81 ;24.19]%
A03 Fat
10
5.15%
0,24
4.7
+/-1
[4.35 ;6.35]%
[4.15 ;7.15]%
A03 Potassium
10
8582ppm
523
6.1
10%
[7295 ;10513]ppm
[6582 ;12582]ppm
A04 Proteins
35
15.90%
0,43
2.7
+/-0.6
[14.31 ;18.29]%
[14.1 ;18.1]%
A04 Fat
34
3.06%
0,27
8.8
+/-1
[2.26 ;4.26]%
[2.06 ;5.06]%
A04 Potassium
33
6172 ppm
404
6.5
10%
[5172 ;7672]ppm
[4172 ;10172]ppm
* Sources SAFE
**threshold calculated in accordance with GV-SOLAS, Guidelines for the Quality - Assured Production of Laboratory Animal Diets, EN A-06-2002
***threshold calculated in accordance with RÈGLEMENT (CE) No 767/2009 from EUROPEAN PARLEMENT AND CONSEIL of july 13th 2009
15
in the raw protein in diets
A03 and A04 over time.
10
A04
A03
5
The recommendations made by FDA and GV-Solas regarding
contaminants provide an initial framework for controlling the
chemical and bacteriological risks to do with laboratory animal
diets. It does not, however, take into account the identification
of new risks. SAFE, which committed itself very early on to
Quality in its products, is pursuing this work of assessing food
risks.
Under this head, we monitor a whole expanded list of pesticides
which includes controlling new phytosanitary processes. The
same analytical control procedure is also carried out on the
list of nitrosamines: their concentrations are close to the
thresholds of quantification. The quality of the protein sources
and of fish protein especially, goes to explain the complete
control exercised over this family of contaminants. In the case
of Mycotoxins, monitoring now covers almost 19 molecules.
An in-depth study on the subject of Mycotoxins and Phytoestrogens
is available on our website at www.safe-diets.com.
ON A03 AND A04 / REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, LABORATORY UNCERTAINTIES/ GV-SOLAS REQUIREMENTS
5 Years
Standard
deviation*
25
%0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
SAFE’s technical service department remains at your disposal for
any more information or clarification you may need on these subjects,
simply by contacting: info@safe-diets.com
REINFORCED CONTROLS ON THE INSTALLATIONS
AND A BETTER INTEGRATION OF THE PRINCIPLE
OF TRACEABILITY
SAFE IS ABLE TO AVAIL ITSELF OF AN ALERT
NETWORK FOR CONTROLLING AND PREVENTING
RISKS TO THE FOOD SAFETY OF YOUR DIETS
The surveillance networks are an essential support and back-up
for controlling the Quality of SAFE’s finished products. It allows us
to transmit information very quickly regarding chemical and
bacteriological contaminants linked to the ingredients imported
into Europe or else in transit within the European Community. The
list given below corresponds to recent alerts that might affect the
diets for laboratory animals: SAFE is not affected by any of these.
• Italy signalled a level of arsenic which was too high (253 ppm)
in the manganese oxide coming from India.
• Germany signalled the presence of metalaxyl (0.4 ppm) and
thiamethoxam (2.3 ppm) in Organic sunflower cakes coming
from the Netherlands..
• Finland and the United Kingdom detected the presence of
Chloramphenicol (440 ppb) in enzymatic preparations coming
from India and aimed at human consumption.
Following the publication of the decree of 27 November 2014
raising the risk level in the highly pathogenic Asian bird ‘flu
to “moderate” over all of Metropolitan France, the Ministry published
two safety notices on 4 December 2014 stating the applicable
measures to be taken in terms of surveillance and prevention. Since
it is not at all present in the farm livestock’s or in natural reserves or
zoos, SAFE is not affected by this alert.
Route de Saint Bris 89290, Augy
France
T: +33(0)3 86 53 76 90
The last stage of the manufacturing process, bagging the diets,
requires very special care, focussed on controlling that the product
remains intact and the information as to its traceability, which you
will have access to.
In order to improve these two points even more, we have implemented
an investment programme around the twin axes of mechanical and
software development.
All of the diets storage silos, prior to the bagging stage, have been
fitted with control and cleaning hatches in their lower sections. This
allows the operators to ensure a complete and perfect emptying of
the silos as well as the cleanliness of the installations before they are
used again for storing new batches of diets.
This new working procedure, performed systematically with each
emptying of the silo, is also controlled and safeguarded by the
production software system (e.g. data on the cleaning operations).
These advances have also made it possible for us to put four new
silos into service for storing finished products, whilst ensuring the
greatest possible flexibility and protection for the instrument itself and
its operation.
Parallel to this new installation, the computerisation of the bagging
production line has meant, in addition, the automatic transfer of the
traceability data for the operating system to the various machines
and printers along the production line, thus avoiding the need for
different types of information to be entered manually, such as the
name of the diet, the shelf life and the batch number.
For
more informations,www.safe-diets.com
please conctat us
info@safe-diets.com
Which controls and
what are the results ?
SAFE’s will and purpose to master Quality in its products
requires a considerable control programme and numerous
samples taken. In 2013, SAFE analysed more than 35,000
physical, chemical and bacteriological criteria related to these
raw materials and finished products. This commitment to
Quality amounts to the simple fact that, on average, each
batch of SAFE diet is assessed on the basis of more than 145
analytical parameters. This same analytical control is performed
in continuous manner and/or at random; it is carried out in
partnership with leading laboratories, each in their respective
field (nutritional chemistry, nitrate contaminants, etc.) with
authorisation issued by COFRAC [The French Certification
body].
It should be said that this important analytical programme is
completed by:
• chemical or bacteriological checks to assess the metrological
compliance of the production processes,
• and by tailor-made studies aimed at assessing innovations
that might improve the quality of the products, sometimes
conducted in partnership with others.
THE ANALYSES
The reliability of the tools of research is fundamental to the
way biomedical and biological studies should be conducted.
Stemming from this, mastering control of the living conditions
for animals bred for experimentation and their diet constitutes
one of the key links in this chain of control. In order to
ensure Stability and Quality in the diets distributed to the
laboratory animals, SAFE produces diets that implement
important procedures to ensure Food Quality and Safety:
the training of personnel, the choice of suppliers, hygiene,
the standardisation of processes, Quality Control, Quality
Assurance. Analytical Control represents a major and
permanent tool for monitoring the finished products. In
order to guarantee the Quality of its products, SAFE controls
all the diet batches produced and does this at various stages
of the process.
This monitoring consists, first and foremost, in checking the
production information regarding the batch. Each time
ingredients are weighed, this is recorded and validated. A
direct online check is also made on the physical quality of
the product by the operator. A sampling programme makes
it possible to collect samples at different stages of the
process and at several points. These multiple samples are
recorded and kept (in a vacuum seal) by Quality Control
for a period of 2 years.
SAFE commits itself to a long-term working relationship with
its suppliers, mainly French, and this with an aim to preventing
or anticipating health and food-safety issues. Nonetheless,
the action of controlling ingredients remains a key step in
maintaining control over the Quality of the products.
Selecting and controlling the ingredients incorporated in the
diets constitutes an important factor in managing the quality
of the finished products. Monitoring is assured by effecting
controls on receipt of the raw materials, which comes down
to performing physico-chemical checks as to:
• the absence of impurities or any foreign bodies,
• respect for nutritional values: proteins, starch, fats, calcium,
phosphor, vitamin values, etc.
• the level of biological or chemical contaminants present:
microbiological analyses, heavy metals, mycotoxins, dioxins,
melamines, etc.
All this data allows us to establish with certainty the compliance
of SAFE products with regulations and with the specific
requirements of the animal facilities. This Quality commitment
leads to the identification of any possible non compliance.
These products are subjected to an organised and specialised
type of processing.
MASTERING QUALITY
This surveillance data on the raw materials allows us to anticipate
any non-compliance in the finished products, to continually
improve the quality of the ingredients and to set up a strict
monitoring process with the suppliers. And this control is
completed by our taking an active part in the Food Quality and
Safety networks developed by the European Union (such as
RASFF – Rapid Alert System For Food and Feed) or else by
liaising with National bodies. At the end of this Newsletter, you
will find examples of recent alerts that might concern the diets
for laboratory animals.
Added to this monitoring of the ingredients, one should not forget
the systematic checks carried out on all the SAFE diets batches.
These are performed, in particular, by the QUALITY CONTROL
department:
• Measurements of the granulation of the flours, which is an
indicator of a grinding process having been fully mastered and
is necessary for there to be constant digestibility of the products.
• Measurements of the hardness, resistance to abrasion,
weights and sizes of the granules, since these parameters
allow one to objectively assess the working methods of the
granulation process. They also provide information as to how
the granules behave during the various stages of being kept
in the animal section, as well as at the moment of distributing
the granules to the animals.
• Measurements of the humidity levels and water activity
(AW): these criteria allow one to assess the quality of the
drying-cooling process. They also contribute to the quality
of the finished product during storage and use. This data is
all the more important at SAFE since we prohibit the use of
preservatives.
• A systematic chemical control of the products by
spectrophotometry.
These, then, are the objective indicators of the stability
and control exercised over our processes.
The constant results obtained are themselves proof of the
quality of SAFE products. The latest synthesis in the Nutritional
and Contaminants levels shows that all the analyses and
products comply with the control programme as it was drawn
up, with regulations and with the SAFE norms. They demonstrate
the constancy of the nutritional levels and the reduced weight
of contaminants. This data brings with it a guarantee of our
control of health risks to animals and users alike, who come
into contact with the diets.
With respect to the nutritional content, the monitoring of protein
and fat levels shows a good degree of stability in these
nutriments over the course of time. The variations observed
are lower than analytical uncertainty and reproducibility.
They’re of course lower than the variations admitted by regulations
and lowoer than the ones promoted by GV-SOLAS.
Controlling the sources of the ingredients, the choice of raw
materials with low biochemical variations, the design of the
formulation and the diversification of the ingredients it is
made of, all go to explain these observations. Rigorousness
in dosing the ingredients, the process capacity, metrology
and the level of tolerance in non-compliance in production
also contribute to the low levels of variation in the nutritional
values of the finished products. This data illustrates the complying
of fixed diet formula concept to the biochemical contraints of
raw materials and meet the need for a constantly reliable
tool to be deployed in the experimental protocols.
The scientific procedures constitute a very considerable
investment in both human and technical terms. Acquiring full
control over the diets requires regular vigilance and perfect
traceability. The source of the ingredients and the implementation
of the processes meet these requirements, the analytical
information available making it possible to control and to
confidently confirm the respect of these requirements. Collaboration
with the analytical laboratories is essential in defining the
quality of the SAFE finished products. This partnership allows
us to innovate in terms of nutritional know-how and in diet
quality: it constitutes an essential commitment on our part in
order to bring you the best possible guarantees.
ANALYTICAL CRITERIA
5 Years
Samples*
5 Years
average*
20
AVERAGE VALUES AND
TYPICAL DIVERGENCES
Variation
Coefficient
(%)
Analytical
Uncertaincy
(+/- or %)
GV SOLAS
limits**
EU Regulations
Limits***
A03 Proteins
10
21.50 %
0,43
2
+/- 0.6
[19.5 ;24.5]%
[18.81 ;24.19]%
A03 Fat
10
5.15%
0,24
4.7
+/-1
[4.35 ;6.35]%
[4.15 ;7.15]%
A03 Potassium
10
8582ppm
523
6.1
10%
[7295 ;10513]ppm
[6582 ;12582]ppm
A04 Proteins
35
15.90%
0,43
2.7
+/-0.6
[14.31 ;18.29]%
[14.1 ;18.1]%
A04 Fat
34
3.06%
0,27
8.8
+/-1
[2.26 ;4.26]%
[2.06 ;5.06]%
A04 Potassium
33
6172 ppm
404
6.5
10%
[5172 ;7672]ppm
[4172 ;10172]ppm
* Sources SAFE
**threshold calculated in accordance with GV-SOLAS, Guidelines for the Quality - Assured Production of Laboratory Animal Diets, EN A-06-2002
***threshold calculated in accordance with RÈGLEMENT (CE) No 767/2009 from EUROPEAN PARLEMENT AND CONSEIL of july 13th 2009
15
in the raw protein in diets
A03 and A04 over time.
10
A04
A03
5
The recommendations made by FDA and GV-Solas regarding
contaminants provide an initial framework for controlling the
chemical and bacteriological risks to do with laboratory animal
diets. It does not, however, take into account the identification
of new risks. SAFE, which committed itself very early on to
Quality in its products, is pursuing this work of assessing food
risks.
Under this head, we monitor a whole expanded list of pesticides
which includes controlling new phytosanitary processes. The
same analytical control procedure is also carried out on the
list of nitrosamines: their concentrations are close to the
thresholds of quantification. The quality of the protein sources
and of fish protein especially, goes to explain the complete
control exercised over this family of contaminants. In the case
of Mycotoxins, monitoring now covers almost 19 molecules.
An in-depth study on the subject of Mycotoxins and Phytoestrogens
is available on our website at www.safe-diets.com.
ON A03 AND A04 / REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, LABORATORY UNCERTAINTIES/ GV-SOLAS REQUIREMENTS
5 Years
Standard
deviation*
25
%0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
SAFE’s technical service department remains at your disposal for
any more information or clarification you may need on these subjects,
simply by contacting: info@safe-diets.com
REINFORCED CONTROLS ON THE INSTALLATIONS
AND A BETTER INTEGRATION OF THE PRINCIPLE
OF TRACEABILITY
SAFE IS ABLE TO AVAIL ITSELF OF AN ALERT
NETWORK FOR CONTROLLING AND PREVENTING
RISKS TO THE FOOD SAFETY OF YOUR DIETS
The surveillance networks are an essential support and back-up
for controlling the Quality of SAFE’s finished products. It allows us
to transmit information very quickly regarding chemical and
bacteriological contaminants linked to the ingredients imported
into Europe or else in transit within the European Community. The
list given below corresponds to recent alerts that might affect the
diets for laboratory animals: SAFE is not affected by any of these.
• Italy signalled a level of arsenic which was too high (253 ppm)
in the manganese oxide coming from India.
• Germany signalled the presence of metalaxyl (0.4 ppm) and
thiamethoxam (2.3 ppm) in Organic sunflower cakes coming
from the Netherlands..
• Finland and the United Kingdom detected the presence of
Chloramphenicol (440 ppb) in enzymatic preparations coming
from India and aimed at human consumption.
Following the publication of the decree of 27 November 2014
raising the risk level in the highly pathogenic Asian bird ‘flu
to “moderate” over all of Metropolitan France, the Ministry published
two safety notices on 4 December 2014 stating the applicable
measures to be taken in terms of surveillance and prevention. Since
it is not at all present in the farm livestock’s or in natural reserves or
zoos, SAFE is not affected by this alert.
Route de Saint Bris 89290, Augy
France
T: +33(0)3 86 53 76 90
The last stage of the manufacturing process, bagging the diets,
requires very special care, focussed on controlling that the product
remains intact and the information as to its traceability, which you
will have access to.
In order to improve these two points even more, we have implemented
an investment programme around the twin axes of mechanical and
software development.
All of the diets storage silos, prior to the bagging stage, have been
fitted with control and cleaning hatches in their lower sections. This
allows the operators to ensure a complete and perfect emptying of
the silos as well as the cleanliness of the installations before they are
used again for storing new batches of diets.
This new working procedure, performed systematically with each
emptying of the silo, is also controlled and safeguarded by the
production software system (e.g. data on the cleaning operations).
These advances have also made it possible for us to put four new
silos into service for storing finished products, whilst ensuring the
greatest possible flexibility and protection for the instrument itself and
its operation.
Parallel to this new installation, the computerisation of the bagging
production line has meant, in addition, the automatic transfer of the
traceability data for the operating system to the various machines
and printers along the production line, thus avoiding the need for
different types of information to be entered manually, such as the
name of the diet, the shelf life and the batch number.
For
more informations,www.safe-diets.com
please conctat us
info@safe-diets.com
AN EVOLUTION IN THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESS SO AS TO ENSURE GREATER RESPECT
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR WORKING CONDITIONS
Improvements
in SAFE beddings
The whole range of autoclavable diets undergoes a coating process of the granulated feeds with silica (an extremely fine
and volatile product) which reduces clumping during the process of autoclaving.
Up to now, this operation was performed immediately after the cooling process which, itself, followed the granulation of the
products, necessitating a long pneumatic transfer to the bagging process for the feeds (with vertical transportation at a
height of 40 metres).
This installation has been re-arranged in the final section of the process, just before the sifting stage which comes before the
products are put into bags. This is a way to exclude any unwanted dust elements entering in at the early stages of manufacture
and thus constituting a safeguard for our whole process.
We took the opportunity given by this adaptation to protect the incorporation mechanism with a more precise automated
system and to equip the incorporation system in such a way as to give the operators more comfort. All this has been implemented within the framework of our automation programme, to ensure a correct and reproducible working procedure.
Real measures of incorporation of SiO2 (Silica) in the products, before and after the evolution of the process, have been effected.
Tests on the effectiveness of the processing in the autoclave stage have allowed us to assess how effective this adaptation
and the new doses of incorporation are.
The market in beddings became more and more
narrow in terms of supply and quality in France
over the course of 2014. This is down to several
things:
• An ever-greater demand for additional uses and
new markets (heating, absorbents for the floor,
smoking, etc.),
Newsletter
• The disappearance of time-honoured players in
the field.
To ensure quality and a constant supply, for two
years now we have been working well-established
and exclusive partnership with the leading European
manufacturer of beddings for biomedical research
laboratories.
JANUARY 2015
In order to meet your needs, SAFE takes the time to
think about those developments that might bring your
work to an optimum level. In the light of your
comments, we have decided to improve our range
for 2015 by adopting 2 major changes:
EFFICIENT VACUUM PACKING
OF THE PRODUCTS
Vacuum packing the products is still a delicate
operation, since it is subject to a number of
factors, such as the machine settings, the
quality of the films used, the products to be
shrink-sealed (bags that differ in terms of quality,
unit volume, etc.). By this operation, the product
quality has to be guaranteed for you right up
to its arrival at your laboratory.
CHANGE IN THE CONDITIONING OF BEDDINGS
IRRADIATED AT 40 KGY
These beddings are mostly used for animals kept
in isolators. The primary packaging for our beddings
in small-scale conditioning will, in the future, be
made of edible foodstuff cellulose which will,
just as it is at the moment, be vacuum sealed
(double pass with the indicator of irradiation)
and packed in a cardboard box.
PRODUCT LISTING JRS WOOD SHAVINGS
Spruce wood shavings of very high quality, even more
aerated, with a very low dust ratio, stored in bags of
7 kg to be even easier to stock.
This new conditioning will, in particular, allow
you to:
• Perform less handling in the isolator (the primary
plastic sleeve won’t have to be taken off any
more),
• Fine tuning of the various temperatures for
the moulding of plastics and the sealing of the
seams between the films.
• Use the primary packaging as enrichment if you
wish, by bringing it into direct contact with the animals.
Three of our products have seen an optimisation in
their packaging of more than 33%. This, in itself,
makes possible a gain in transportation for everyone involved and a reduction in the environmental
impact.
• Litière Plus BK 8-15-40 (D0757P00Z) switching
to vacuum-sealed sachets 10 x 400g –primary
packaging in edible cellulose.
• Toplit Select Fine-40 (D1071P00Z) switching to
vacuum-sealed sachets 10 x 400g – primary
packaging in edible cellulose.
• Toplit Select Fine-40 (D1075P00Z) switching
to vacuum-sealed sachets 2*2 kg.
Allow for a phase-in period for the product to do
with stock turnover.
With an aim to improve this process even
more, numerous test and analytical studies
were carried out over the years 2013 and
2014. We’d like to take this occasion to
thank all those of you who allowed us to test
certain solutions, even if not all of them then
went on to be certified. This work resulted,
nonetheless, in many developments which
have been implemented this year:
• Controls and settings for calibrating the
vacuums during the sealing phases.
• The implementation of counter-blades to
give a more accurate guide for the cutting.
• The choice of a single supplier for the various
types of film.
ANALYSES OF BEDDING PRODUCTS CARRIED
OUT BY INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES
These three-monthly microbiological and
physico-chemical analyses guarantee for you the
absence of any contaminants.
They are available by e-mail on request: simply
address info@safe-diets.com.
All these different and specific tasks proper to
the vacuum-sealing operations have been
accompanied by a re-alignment of the setting
paper in the packing chests. By adopting a
cross-shape setting, we have reduced the risks
of vacuum-sealed pockets being chafed during
maintenance operations.
In the near future, and linked to the visual
developments of the chests (our new SAFE
logo being incorporated), you will see a
special control window appearing in the vacuumsealed products, which will allow you to check
on and be assured of the perfect quality level
of the products on delivery.
Upon quality commitments
NEW PAPER BAGGING FORMAT
After more than 12 years of good and loyal services, our bagging section will take on
the new developments made in our graphics card.
It will undergo just a few stylistic and textual adaptations, without altering its main
characteristics (composition, shapes and ergonometrics, food contact approval,
dimensions; weight, etc.).
We’d like to remind you that all our bags are fitted with an easy opening (without scissors
or cutters needed) and are made of paper approved for contact with foods. The double
bags (controlled and irradiated) are ‘strippable’ and include traceability info down to
the inner bag.
You will also see a new logo appearing on the irradiated bags: this is the
international logo to identify those products that have been subjected to an
ionising process (gamma or electron streaming).
For some time already, it is possible to find the batch number written on one of the
sides of the bag, next to the diet name. This will allow you to make an added visual
identification of the products.
FLASH NEWS
SAFE DIETS ASIA
SAFE is developing its business in ASIA. A second participation in AFLAS
2014 (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia) as exhibitor and the success of this trade
fair has strengthened our resolve in this project.
CUSTOM DIETS SATISFACTION SURVEY
In order to provide an ever better service, we have to get to know you better, too. It is for this end
that we carried out a customer satisfaction survey in our Custom Diets and I want especially to
thank those among you who took part in this. The survey allowed us to get a clearer idea of expectations in what is our growth sector.
Over the course of 2015, we shall be implementing a number of procedures aimed at giving us
more profile in this field and enabling us to exchange ideas and impressions with the diets’ users.
REGULATORY EVOLUTION
In terms of additive, the European Union imposes a regular review of the effectiveness of nutritional ingredients. In that framework, Inositol improperly classified as vitamin, but not biologically recognized
as such by nutritionists, has been the subject of a review of its biological interest. In 2014, EFSA assessments have not identified any technical efficiency and interest provided that ingredient in synthetic
form. Accordingly, carbocyclic compound, naturally in plants (particularly in cereals under phytate) is
no longer allowed to be added as an additive in feeds. The European Regulation 1249/2014 limits
its use in fish feeds. Feed for other animals are not allowed to receive Inositol and its synthetic derivatives
as of June 2015. In compliance with European regulations, in accordance with the SAFE transparency
commitments, we inform you that from 1st June 2015, production of SAFE diets will not incorporate
this feed additive. This involves: autoclavable rodent diets, guinea pig and primate diets. They will be
marketed as of July 2015.
Sources EFSA : European Food and Safety Agency.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/fr/efsajournal/pub/3671.htm
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R1249&rid=1.
It’s my pleasure to introduce this ‘SAFE Newsletter’ which, as always, sets itself off by concentrating
on the concept of quality. You all know what commitment and energy we put into accomplishing
our goals and reducing ‘the diet factor’. Your questions and your ever more defined expectations
allow us to carry on making progresses.
In November 2013, Sylvain Tuller, R&D engineer,
joined the SAFE team. One of his objectives is to
enhance the results derived from effective past efforts.
Several lines of research and in-depth analysis have
been undertaken.
In the first instance, a retrospective analysis of all the
available data has been initiated with an aim to
show the long term effectiveness of our commitments.
Dominique Martel and Sylvain Tuller are going to
outline for you just a few of these results.
On the industrial side of things, several improvements
have been brought to completion, in particular,
regarding the autoclavable products and in the vacuum
packing process (an improved cardboard which will
allow you to test product quality while still in its
vacuum seal). On the packaging side, we shall be
presenting the design of our new bags to you, to be
implemented over the course of 2015.
We are now perfecting our offer by proposing, for
example, an improved packaging for the beddings
used in isolators.
The range of beddings and enrichementenjoyed a
great success in 2014, something which confirms
the wisdom of our choices.
SAFE team
Route de Saint Bris 89290, Augy
France
T: +33(0)3 86 53 76 90
I wish all of you an excellent 2015, full of health and
happiness. I hope you woken up on Christmas Day
to find a stocking filled with plans and projects that
you will go on to achieve.
For
more informations,www.safe-diets.com
please conctat us
info@safe-diets.com
AN EVOLUTION IN THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESS SO AS TO ENSURE GREATER RESPECT
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR WORKING CONDITIONS
Improvements
in SAFE beddings
The whole range of autoclavable diets undergoes a coating process of the granulated feeds with silica (an extremely fine
and volatile product) which reduces clumping during the process of autoclaving.
Up to now, this operation was performed immediately after the cooling process which, itself, followed the granulation of the
products, necessitating a long pneumatic transfer to the bagging process for the feeds (with vertical transportation at a
height of 40 metres).
This installation has been re-arranged in the final section of the process, just before the sifting stage which comes before the
products are put into bags. This is a way to exclude any unwanted dust elements entering in at the early stages of manufacture
and thus constituting a safeguard for our whole process.
We took the opportunity given by this adaptation to protect the incorporation mechanism with a more precise automated
system and to equip the incorporation system in such a way as to give the operators more comfort. All this has been implemented within the framework of our automation programme, to ensure a correct and reproducible working procedure.
Real measures of incorporation of SiO2 (Silica) in the products, before and after the evolution of the process, have been effected.
Tests on the effectiveness of the processing in the autoclave stage have allowed us to assess how effective this adaptation
and the new doses of incorporation are.
The market in beddings became more and more
narrow in terms of supply and quality in France
over the course of 2014. This is down to several
things:
• An ever-greater demand for additional uses and
new markets (heating, absorbents for the floor,
smoking, etc.),
Newsletter
• The disappearance of time-honoured players in
the field.
To ensure quality and a constant supply, for two
years now we have been working well-established
and exclusive partnership with the leading European
manufacturer of beddings for biomedical research
laboratories.
JANUARY 2015
In order to meet your needs, SAFE takes the time to
think about those developments that might bring your
work to an optimum level. In the light of your
comments, we have decided to improve our range
for 2015 by adopting 2 major changes:
EFFICIENT VACUUM PACKING
OF THE PRODUCTS
Vacuum packing the products is still a delicate
operation, since it is subject to a number of
factors, such as the machine settings, the
quality of the films used, the products to be
shrink-sealed (bags that differ in terms of quality,
unit volume, etc.). By this operation, the product
quality has to be guaranteed for you right up
to its arrival at your laboratory.
CHANGE IN THE CONDITIONING OF BEDDINGS
IRRADIATED AT 40 KGY
These beddings are mostly used for animals kept
in isolators. The primary packaging for our beddings
in small-scale conditioning will, in the future, be
made of edible foodstuff cellulose which will,
just as it is at the moment, be vacuum sealed
(double pass with the indicator of irradiation)
and packed in a cardboard box.
PRODUCT LISTING JRS WOOD SHAVINGS
Spruce wood shavings of very high quality, even more
aerated, with a very low dust ratio, stored in bags of
7 kg to be even easier to stock.
This new conditioning will, in particular, allow
you to:
• Perform less handling in the isolator (the primary
plastic sleeve won’t have to be taken off any
more),
• Fine tuning of the various temperatures for
the moulding of plastics and the sealing of the
seams between the films.
• Use the primary packaging as enrichment if you
wish, by bringing it into direct contact with the animals.
Three of our products have seen an optimisation in
their packaging of more than 33%. This, in itself,
makes possible a gain in transportation for everyone involved and a reduction in the environmental
impact.
• Litière Plus BK 8-15-40 (D0757P00Z) switching
to vacuum-sealed sachets 10 x 400g –primary
packaging in edible cellulose.
• Toplit Select Fine-40 (D1071P00Z) switching to
vacuum-sealed sachets 10 x 400g – primary
packaging in edible cellulose.
• Toplit Select Fine-40 (D1075P00Z) switching
to vacuum-sealed sachets 2*2 kg.
Allow for a phase-in period for the product to do
with stock turnover.
With an aim to improve this process even
more, numerous test and analytical studies
were carried out over the years 2013 and
2014. We’d like to take this occasion to
thank all those of you who allowed us to test
certain solutions, even if not all of them then
went on to be certified. This work resulted,
nonetheless, in many developments which
have been implemented this year:
• Controls and settings for calibrating the
vacuums during the sealing phases.
• The implementation of counter-blades to
give a more accurate guide for the cutting.
• The choice of a single supplier for the various
types of film.
ANALYSES OF BEDDING PRODUCTS CARRIED
OUT BY INDEPENDENT LABORATORIES
These three-monthly microbiological and
physico-chemical analyses guarantee for you the
absence of any contaminants.
They are available by e-mail on request: simply
address info@safe-diets.com.
All these different and specific tasks proper to
the vacuum-sealing operations have been
accompanied by a re-alignment of the setting
paper in the packing chests. By adopting a
cross-shape setting, we have reduced the risks
of vacuum-sealed pockets being chafed during
maintenance operations.
In the near future, and linked to the visual
developments of the chests (our new SAFE
logo being incorporated), you will see a
special control window appearing in the vacuumsealed products, which will allow you to check
on and be assured of the perfect quality level
of the products on delivery.
Upon quality commitments
NEW PAPER BAGGING FORMAT
After more than 12 years of good and loyal services, our bagging section will take on
the new developments made in our graphics card.
It will undergo just a few stylistic and textual adaptations, without altering its main
characteristics (composition, shapes and ergonometrics, food contact approval,
dimensions; weight, etc.).
We’d like to remind you that all our bags are fitted with an easy opening (without scissors
or cutters needed) and are made of paper approved for contact with foods. The double
bags (controlled and irradiated) are ‘strippable’ and include traceability info down to
the inner bag.
You will also see a new logo appearing on the irradiated bags: this is the
international logo to identify those products that have been subjected to an
ionising process (gamma or electron streaming).
For some time already, it is possible to find the batch number written on one of the
sides of the bag, next to the diet name. This will allow you to make an added visual
identification of the products.
FLASH NEWS
SAFE DIETS ASIA
SAFE is developing its business in ASIA. A second participation in AFLAS
2014 (Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia) as exhibitor and the success of this trade
fair has strengthened our resolve in this project.
CUSTOM DIETS SATISFACTION SURVEY
In order to provide an ever better service, we have to get to know you better, too. It is for this end
that we carried out a customer satisfaction survey in our Custom Diets and I want especially to
thank those among you who took part in this. The survey allowed us to get a clearer idea of expectations in what is our growth sector.
Over the course of 2015, we shall be implementing a number of procedures aimed at giving us
more profile in this field and enabling us to exchange ideas and impressions with the diets’ users.
REGULATORY EVOLUTION
In terms of additive, the European Union imposes a regular review of the effectiveness of nutritional ingredients. In that framework, Inositol improperly classified as vitamin, but not biologically recognized
as such by nutritionists, has been the subject of a review of its biological interest. In 2014, EFSA assessments have not identified any technical efficiency and interest provided that ingredient in synthetic
form. Accordingly, carbocyclic compound, naturally in plants (particularly in cereals under phytate) is
no longer allowed to be added as an additive in feeds. The European Regulation 1249/2014 limits
its use in fish feeds. Feed for other animals are not allowed to receive Inositol and its synthetic derivatives
as of June 2015. In compliance with European regulations, in accordance with the SAFE transparency
commitments, we inform you that from 1st June 2015, production of SAFE diets will not incorporate
this feed additive. This involves: autoclavable rodent diets, guinea pig and primate diets. They will be
marketed as of July 2015.
Sources EFSA : European Food and Safety Agency.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/fr/efsajournal/pub/3671.htm
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32014R1249&rid=1.
It’s my pleasure to introduce this ‘SAFE Newsletter’ which, as always, sets itself off by concentrating
on the concept of quality. You all know what commitment and energy we put into accomplishing
our goals and reducing ‘the diet factor’. Your questions and your ever more defined expectations
allow us to carry on making progresses.
In November 2013, Sylvain Tuller, R&D engineer,
joined the SAFE team. One of his objectives is to
enhance the results derived from effective past efforts.
Several lines of research and in-depth analysis have
been undertaken.
In the first instance, a retrospective analysis of all the
available data has been initiated with an aim to
show the long term effectiveness of our commitments.
Dominique Martel and Sylvain Tuller are going to
outline for you just a few of these results.
On the industrial side of things, several improvements
have been brought to completion, in particular,
regarding the autoclavable products and in the vacuum
packing process (an improved cardboard which will
allow you to test product quality while still in its
vacuum seal). On the packaging side, we shall be
presenting the design of our new bags to you, to be
implemented over the course of 2015.
We are now perfecting our offer by proposing, for
example, an improved packaging for the beddings
used in isolators.
The range of beddings and enrichementenjoyed a
great success in 2014, something which confirms
the wisdom of our choices.
SAFE team
Route de Saint Bris 89290, Augy
France
T: +33(0)3 86 53 76 90
I wish all of you an excellent 2015, full of health and
happiness. I hope you woken up on Christmas Day
to find a stocking filled with plans and projects that
you will go on to achieve.
For
more informations,www.safe-diets.com
please conctat us
info@safe-diets.com