1. Raw-material receiving and pre-freeze control
– Observe whether incoming fruit is separated by supplier, lot, harvest date, maturity and inspection status.
– Check whether the facility has written acceptance criteria for ripeness, defects, foreign matter, pest damage and decay.
– Ask how washed and prepared fruit is protected before pre-freezing.
– Review whether each prepared batch can be traced back to the raw-material receiving lot.
2. Pre-freezing and freeze-drying process control
– Observe whether product loading is consistent by tray, rack or batch.
– Ask how pre-freezing conditions are defined and recorded before the vacuum-drying cycle starts.
– Review how the facility controls and records cycle identity, equipment settings, product load, time, vacuum conditions and end-point release criteria.
– Ask how operators handle interrupted cycles, equipment alarms or batches that do not meet release criteria.
– Check maintenance and calibration records for key measuring equipment.
3. Post-drying hygiene and moisture protection
– Observe whether dried product is transferred into a controlled low-moisture packing environment without unnecessary open exposure.
– Check staff hygiene, tool sanitation, foreign-material controls and product-contact surfaces.
– Ask how moisture pick-up is prevented between dryer discharge and final sealing.
– Review moisture or water-activity checks used for batch release where applicable.
– Check whether broken pieces and fines are controlled against the approved specification.
4. Packing, storage, traceability and export readiness
– Inspect inner bags, pouches or bulk packaging for moisture and oxygen barrier suitability.
– Review seal-integrity checks, lot coding and finished-goods segregation.
– Ask how desiccants, oxygen absorbers or nitrogen flushing are controlled if they are used in the approved specification.
– Check whether COA, microbiology results, residue/contaminant testing, packing list and traceability records are available before shipment.
– Ask whether the facility can run a traceability test from finished carton back to drying batch and raw-material lot.
Why this matters for buyers
Codex identifies general food-hygiene, dried-fruit and dehydrated-fruit controls as relevant foundations for safe processing. Vietnam’s processed fruit exports are also gaining importance as the sector moves further into high-value markets. (Sources: Codex; Vietnam News/Vinafruit, 2026)
For buyers, a freeze-dried fruit facility visit should test whether the supplier can keep a low-moisture product dry, hygienic, traceable and specification-consistent after the drying cycle—not only whether the factory owns freeze-drying equipment.
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