CANADA: Egg processing plant places focus on food-grade lubricants

22.sep.09
Reliable Plant Magazine

Each week, six million eggs pass through the Burnbrae Farms processing plant in
Strathroy, Ontario. That’s 1.2 million eggs that are washed, graded and packaged
there daily.
“We are concerned about two things,” says senior plant supervisor Alex Davenport.
“You have to make sure the eggs are safe and you don’t want the machines to stop.”
Burnbrae Farms is a family owned and operated company dedicated to the processing
and distribution of eggs and egg products throughout Canada. They are committed to
providing consumers with products that meet the highest standards of quality and
safety. The eggs have a long way to go from the hen to the grocery shelf, but it’s
the six minutes from the loader to the egg carton that Davenport worries about. It’s
his job to make sure the sorting and packing machines are running efficiently and
that the eggs don’t get broken or graded incorrectly. Legislation requires that all
eggs sold in retail stores and restaurants must be graded at a station that conforms
to rigorous federal standards.
“Petro-Canada is a leader in food grade,” said Davenport, a 32-year veteran at the
egg processing plant. “Petro-Canada’s PURITY FG lubricants are registered for use
around our eggs. That’s the No. 1 reason why we switched.”
Meeting Food Safety Regulations
“We adopted HACCP three years ago, so we had to find an accredited food grade oil,”
said Pat Marentette, maintenance supervisor at Burnbrae Farms.
The internationally recognized HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system
is used to enhance food safety, and its use is supported by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency. HACCP principles require that potential hazards in production are
analyzed and critical control points are set to eliminate or minimize the risks in
question.
All of Petro-Canada’s PURITY FG lubricants meet the high standards of the food
industry and fit perfectly in HACCP and GMP plans.
“Everywhere you go, you read about it in every magazine: safety is so important in
our industry,” said Davenport. “That’s why we geared up with Petro‑Canada; they are
ahead of a lot of other companies out there and do a lot of research in that area.”