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Allergen Management Policy

Document No.: HJ-TD-PE-03-PK/3-42-A-2022
Supervising Department: Quality Control Department
Company: Zhangjiakou Hongji Agriculture Technology Development Co., Ltd.

Short Answer

This policy (HJ-TD-PE-03-PK/3-42-A-2022, supervised by the Quality Control Department) defines how allergens are identified and controlled at the Zhangjiakou potato flake plant. The product-level conclusion is short: the factory does not use allergenic substances, so HONGJI potato flakes and powder contain none of the eight allergens listed in China's national list (cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, fish, eggs, peanuts, soybeans, milk and dairy, tree nuts; GB 23779-2009 / GB 7718-2011). The policy exists to keep that statement true — through raw-material and additive screening, supplier declarations, segregation and cleaning practice, label review and change control when a new material is introduced.

What a buyer's auditor typically asks for

  • The allergen matrix for the site and for each product, cross-checked against the ingredient declarations in the product specification.
  • Supplier declarations for every additive and processing aid (the specification permits only INS 471 ≤ 0.5% and INS 330 ≤ 100 ppm).
  • Cleaning and changeover records — what is validated when a line is switched between products.
  • Label review evidence for customer-specific or private-label artwork.
  • A documented re-assessment trigger — what happens before a new ingredient or supplier is introduced.

1. Purpose and Scope

This policy ensures that all allergenic factors related to product safety are properly identified and effectively managed, guaranteeing the normal and effective operation of the quality and food safety management system.

The policy applies to the management and control of all allergens related to product safety across the potato flake production facility.

1.1 Responsibilities

  • The Quality Control Department is the primary department responsible for allergen management and for identifying allergens that may affect product safety.
  • The General Manager, together with the Production and Power Department, Marketing Department, Administration Department, and other relevant departments, provides necessary information and cooperates in implementing allergen control plans.

2. Allergen Identification

According to relevant allergen management requirements, food allergens that must be identified with precautionary labeling on product packaging include the following eight major categories:

Country / Standard Regulation Allergenic Ingredients (8 Categories) Examples
China GB 23779-2009 — Allergenic ingredients in prepackaged foods 1. Cereals containing gluten and their products Wheat, rye, barley, oats, and hybrids
China GB 7718-2011 — General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods, Clause 4.4 2. Crustaceans and their products Crab, lobster, shrimp
3. Fish and their products Perch, flounder, cod
4. Eggs and their products Chicken eggs
5. Peanuts and their products —
6. Soybeans and their products Soybeans
7. Milk and its products Including lactose and cow's milk
8. Tree nuts and their products Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, macadamias
— Sulfites with a concentration greater than 10 mg/kg

3. Control Measures

3.1 Procurement

  1. Before purchasing raw potatoes, suppliers must provide allergen statements or crop rotation records from the past three years to ensure raw potatoes are not subject to cross-contamination by allergens during cultivation.
  2. Purchasing personnel identify allergenic substances according to the eight-allergen list specified in the Food Allergen Labeling Management Regulations.

3.2 Product Receiving

  1. The Quality Control Department inspects incoming raw and auxiliary materials and verifies label information to determine whether they contain any allergens.
  2. If any of the eight specified allergenic substances are indicated on the label, the material is rejected immediately.

3.3 Storage

No allergenic substances listed in the eight major categories are allowed to be stored in the warehouse.

3.4 Personnel Management

  1. All production personnel receive allergen awareness training.
  2. Employees are strictly prohibited from bringing allergen-related items, snacks, or beverages into the workshop.
  3. Eating inside dressing rooms or workshops is prohibited; all meals must be taken in the employee cafeteria.

3.5 Production

  1. Production is carried out on dedicated lines in strict accordance with the process and formulation for potato flakes.
  2. It is strictly forbidden to change the process arbitrarily or to add any additives or raw materials that do not conform to the approved formulation.

4. Allergen Status of Potato Flakes

Hongji Agriculture's potato flakes are produced on dedicated potato-processing lines using no allergenic substances. The finished product is free from all eight major food allergen categories listed in China's regulations.

Allergen Status Basis
Cereals containing gluten Free Factory does not use allergenic substances
Crustaceans Free Not present in facility
Fish Free Not present in facility
Eggs Free Not present in facility
Peanuts Free Not used in production
Soybeans Free Not used in production
Milk / lactose Free Not present in facility
Tree nuts Free Facility is nut-free
Sulfites (>10 mg/kg) None No sulfite addition at any process step

5. Applicable Departments and Implementation

This policy applies to all departments within the company and takes effect from the date of issuance.

End of Document

References

  • National Health Commission of China. GB National Food Safety Standards — contaminant limits and test methods.
  • Hongji Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. 2026. "Allergen Management Policy." Hongji Agriculture Knowledge Center.

This document is part of the Hongji Agriculture Technical Documentation Series. For more information about our vertically integrated potato supply chain — from seed breeding and cultivation to processing and global export — visit our official B2B website: https://hjpotatoflakes.com