Revisão do sistema de gestão documental dos controlos de peso e controlo de qualidade de matérias-primas e produto final

Abstract

The current internship was carried out at Imperial - Produtos Alimentares, S.A., as part of the final year of the Master's degree in Food Engineering at the School of Biotechnology of the Catholic University in Porto. Its main objective was to participate in the quality control of raw materials and the final product, as well as in the revision of the document management system for metrological control, putting into practice the knowledge acquired throughout the master's program. Currently, Imperial conducts microbiological analyses (total microorganism count, mold and yeast count, coliform bacteria detection, and Salmonella detection using PCR technique), physicochemical analyses (determination of fat content, moisture, and acidity), and allergen detection analyses. All internally conducted analytical methods comply with European legislation. Regarding nutritional analyses, Imperial relies on external laboratories to perform microbiological and physicochemical analyses to ensure product and raw material compliance. Recently, rapid allergen detection kits were acquired to validate internally conducted analytical methods, with the aim of eliminating the need for this external service in the future. Regarding the document management system for metrological control, procedures were implemented to streamline the work of employees and the quality department, with suggestions for improvements presented for weight control sheets. Indeed, the activities carried out in quality control proved to be relevant and indispensable in ensuring the quality of the final product, examining the conditions in which raw materials arrive at the company, and verifying the hygiene conditions of the factory environment.

Date of Award	10 Nov 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Raquel Dos Santos Freitas Amorim Oliveira (Supervisor)