VIRU, June 29th, 2016

Dear Rebeca LaGrange

SUPERIOR FOODS

In reference to claim received:

PRODUCT

IQF ARTICHOKES IN QUARTERS

CONTAINER

TCLU 120133 - 2

PO

159853

I.

ISSUE

Product with color and smell/taste off when cooked.

II.

INQUIRY

The traceability of the lots was done and related records were reviewed:
_RECORDS OF BLANCHING PROCESS CONTROL (SIG-R-HA26-10-03)
The blanching and cooling process were monitored every 30 minutes to control temperature and
time, and no non-conformities were observed.
_RECORDS OF CONTROL OF INMERSION SOLUTION (SIG-R-AP115-10-06)
The acid solution was monitored every 30 minutes to control pH of acid solution, time and pH of
the artichoke, and no non-conformities were observed.

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_RECORDS OF INPECTION OF FROZEN ARTICHOKE (SIG-R-AP194-10-2)

The frozen product was evaluated continually every 1 hour to check temperature, quality, foreign
material, etc. So QA Records were reviewed, in them no non-conformities were observed.

III.

ANALYSIS OF CAUSE

The first part of the process took place at the Canned Artichoke Facility where the raw material
was blanched, and then transferred to the Freezing Facility where the artichoke had a second
blanching before freezing. The records in Freezing Facility showed that the parameters of pH of
acid solution and time/temperature in the second blanching were correct and no deviation is
observed, so the possible cause of this defect could happened in the first blanching where pH of
acid solution could affect the quality of the frozen product when it was cooked.

IV. CORRECTIVES ACTIONS

In the current year 2016 the artichoke process will be done at the Frozen Facility from raw material
reception and first blanching to the second blanching, freezing and packaging; thus facilitating the
total control of the process.
Furthermore, to prevent this incident from happening again, every 1 hour a sample of frozen
product will be cooked by 3 minutes and it will be evaluated for an hour to verify the quality of the
final product. If a lot present a deviation in color/odor/taste, it will be separated and not dispatched.

Sincerely,
Franz Diaz Diaz
Quality Assurance Chief
Sociedad Agrcola Vir S.A.

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