Services

The Packaging Consultants International serves the single-service food and beverage packaging industry by helping manufacturers maintain quality products through an integrated consulting program. The major services consist of manufacturing plant audits, microbiological and chemical testing of products, and act as a liaison with governmental regulatory agencies.

Plant Sanitation Audits

An annual inspection of the manufacturing plant is conducted to assist management in detecting problem areas and to recommend corrective measures. Recommendations from the audit may be used by management to enforce or initiate good manufacturing practices (GMPs). The inspection is conducted according to FDA standards to prepare plant personnel and the facility for possible inspection by governmental agencies and to meet the requirements of third-party audits requested by clients.

Microbiological Testing

The microbial quality of finished product and raw materials is monitored regularly according to the PMO – Appendix J sampling frequency requirements to detect microbial contamination problems and to build a sanitary profile for these products. The PCI laboratory is an FDA/IMS approved commercial laboratory for such tests and the results are accepted by U.S. regulatory agencies. In addition, PCI employees can travel to manufacturing sites to trouble shoot the source(s) of a contamination issue at a facility should there be a concern.

The most common microbial analyses performed are total bacteria counts, total coliform, mold, yeast, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., and Listeria spp.

Not all testing listed above is included in our A2LA Scope of Accreditation. Please consult A2LA Certificate #3497.01 for a list of accredited tests.

Chemical/Physical Testing

A wide range of chemical and physical tests are available for quality control, development of new products, and to ensure product and raw materials are in full compliance with appropriate sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). In addition, PCI also accepts heavy metal and water testing.

Extraction / Migration Testing

PCI performs extraction/migration testing for paper, plastic, and pulp manufacturers from around the world. PCI can test "raw" or finished product samples according to both Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulation and to the European Union Standards. PCI will work with clients to help determine necessary extraction testing conditions based on product uses. PCI tests packaging for both Aqueous and Fatty (Title 21 of CFR 176.170) and Dry Foods (Title 21 of CFR 176.180).

Additional Services

Some of the additional services offered by PCI are in-plant training seminars, organoleptic panel evaluations of products, microscopic and chemical analysis of product contaminants, as well as liaison with Federal and State Regulatory agencies.