We've sat through more than a dozen audits with our buyers over the years. The same six questions come up almost every time.
1. What is the prior fill on this specific tank?
The auditor will read the chain-of-custody tag aloud and confirm the listed prior fill is acceptable for your current chemistry. If your application is beverage and the prior fill is "Edible vegetable oil," that's fine. If the prior fill is "Industrial soap concentrate," that's not.
Your defense: the chain-of-custody tag itself, plus our wash logs if needed.
2. What was the wash chemistry, in sequence?
The auditor will want to see that the wash chemistry was the full tri-stage process — hot rinse, caustic, neutral rinse, potable polish — not just a hot rinse. We document this on the tag and in our QR-linked record.
Your defense: the wash sequence field on the tag (HRCNP code = full tri-stage + potable polish).
3. Is the gasket food-grade material?
The auditor will physically inspect the gasket if accessible. EPDM and silicone are acceptable for food contact. Viton is acceptable but raises eyebrows in food applications (it's more associated with solvent). Anything other than these three, the auditor will reject.
Your defense: the gasket field on the tag, plus optionally a printed certificate from us identifying the gasket part.
4. Was the gasket replaced or reseated?
If it was reseated, the auditor may inspect for cracking. If it was replaced, the auditor may ask the date of replacement.
Your defense: the gasket field on the tag has both states clearly indicated.
5. Is there visible evidence of prior chemistry on the bottle?
The auditor will look inside via the fill port. Any visible discoloration, staining, or residue is grounds for rejection. Our process drains and dries the tank before tagging, so this almost never comes up. But if a tote has been re-filled before audit, prior contents can stain in ways that don't affect food safety but flunk visual inspection.
Your defense: visually clean tank. Our six-stage process leaves the tank visually equivalent to new.
6. Can you produce the digital record on demand?
The auditor will sometimes ask to see the digital record beyond the paper tag. Our QR codes link to a per-lot record with intake photos, wash timestamps, and technician sign-off.
Your defense: scan the QR code with the auditor present. The digital record loads in under three seconds.
Auditors aren't trying to trip you up. They're trying to make sure you can answer six questions cleanly. We tag our totes specifically to answer these six. Use the tag.