Cheese and Dairy Plant GMP Daily Inspection Checklist

This checklist ensures dairy and cheese processing facilities comply with FDA 21 CFR Part 117 FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food, FDA Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) Grade A requirements, and dairy industry HACCP programs. Designed for dairy plant quality assurance managers.

  • Industry: Dairy / Food Manufacturing
  • Frequency: Daily
  • Estimated Time: 25-30 minutes
  • Role: QA Manager / Dairy Plant Supervisor
  • Total Items: 21
  • Compliance: FDA 21 CFR Part 117 FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food, FDA Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) Grade A Dairy Standards, FDA 21 CFR Part 110 Current Good Manufacturing Practice, IDFA / Dairy Practices Council GMP Guidelines

Pasteurization and Heat Treatment

Pasteurizer controls and temperature compliance.

  • Pasteurizer chart recorder recording correctly?
  • Holding tube timing and temperature within PMO requirements?
  • Flow diversion device (FDD) functional - diverts on low temperature?
  • Phosphatase test conducted for finished product (if required by state)?

Cold Chain and Refrigeration

Milk receiving, storage, and cold chain maintenance.

  • Raw milk receiving temperature at or below 40F?
  • Raw milk storage tanks at 40F or below?
  • Finished product refrigerated at 45F or below?

Plant GMP and Cleanliness

Good manufacturing practices for dairy facilities.

  • CIP (Clean-in-Place) completed and logged for all product contact equipment?
  • CIP chemical concentrations (caustic, acid, sanitizer) within specification?
  • No condensate dripping on product or product contact surfaces?
  • No evidence of pest activity in processing and storage areas?

Employee Hygiene

Dairy worker hygiene compliance.

  • No employees with illness symptoms working with exposed product?
  • Handwashing facilities stocked and functional?
  • Clean outer garments and hair restraints worn by all personnel in processing?

Quality Testing

In-process and finished product quality testing.

  • pH / acidity tests completed for in-process product?
  • Somatic cell count / bacterial count for incoming raw milk within Grade A limits?
  • Antibiotic residue testing completed on each load of incoming milk?
  • Quality or safety deviations identified

Labeling and Traceability

Product labeling and lot traceability.

  • Finished product labels checked for accuracy (product name, ingredients, allergens, date)?
  • Lot coding applied to all finished product containers?
  • Allergen changeover cleaning completed and verified between different product runs?

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Why Use This Cheese and Dairy Plant GMP Daily Inspection Checklist?

This cheese and dairy plant gmp daily inspection checklist helps dairy / food manufacturing teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for qa manager / dairy plant supervisor professionals, this checklist covers 21 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: daily.

Ensures compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 117 FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food, FDA Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) Grade A Dairy Standards, FDA 21 CFR Part 110 Current Good Manufacturing Practice, IDFA / Dairy Practices Council GMP Guidelines. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Cheese and Dairy Plant GMP Daily Inspection Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 21 inspection items across 6 sections: Pasteurization and Heat Treatment, Cold Chain and Refrigeration, Plant GMP and Cleanliness, Employee Hygiene, Quality Testing, Labeling and Traceability. It is designed for dairy / food manufacturing operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed daily. Each completion takes approximately 25-30 minutes.

Who should use this Cheese and Dairy Plant GMP Daily Inspection Checklist?

This checklist is designed for QA Manager / Dairy Plant Supervisor professionals in the dairy / food manufacturing industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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