Cleaning Process
The cleaning process for soybeans involves several steps to remove impurities and ensure the quality of the beans:
Pre-cleaning:
Soybeans are subjected to pre-cleaning to remove large impurities such as stones, dirt, and plant debris. This is typically done using sieves, screens, or air separation techniques.
Destoning:
After pre-cleaning, the soybeans may undergo a destoning process to remove any remaining stones or heavy impurities. This step improves the purity of the beans.
Cleaning and Sorting:
The soybeans are thoroughly cleaned using mechanical means, such as air suction, sieving, and gravity separation. This process helps remove smaller impurities, dust, and damaged beans.
Dehulling:
In some cases, soybeans may undergo a dehulling process to remove the outer hull or seed coat. Dehulled soybeans, also known as soybean kernels, are often preferred for certain applications, such as making soy milk or tofu.
Final Inspection:
After the cleaning process, a final inspection is conducted to ensure that the soybeans meet the desired quality standards, including size, colour, and absence of foreign matter.
Following these cleaning and preparation steps, Whitesands Agro Commodities Ltd ensures that the soybeans are cleaned, sorted, and ready for export, meeting the quality standards required by customers.
Hazard Identification and Preservative Measures:
Potential Hazards:
Pests: Infestation by insects or pests during cultivation, harvesting, or storage.
Aflatoxin Contamination: Presence of aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxin produced by certain fungi.
Preservative Measures:
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Implementing IPM practices to monitor and control pests effectively. This includes regular inspection, proper storage, and use of environmentally friendly pest control methods.
- Cleaning and Sorting: Thoroughly clean and sort soya beans to remove any foreign matter, damaged beans, or contaminants before export.
- Drying: Properly dry the soya beans to reduce moisture content and minimise the risk of mold, fungal growth, and aflatoxin formation.
- Packaging: Use high-quality, food-grade packaging materials that protect the soya beans from pests, moisture, and physical damage during transport.
- Quality Control: Perform regular quality checks, including laboratory testing, to ensure compliance with international standards and to detect any aflatoxin contamination..
