Map the process and identify hazards
Review receiving, preparation, cooking, cooling, handling, packaging, refrigerated storage, and distribution. Identify where hazards may survive, grow, produce toxins, or re-enter the product.
Evaluate time-temperature exposure
Assess cumulative time and temperature during processing, cooling, staging, and storage. Establish scientifically supported limits and monitoring procedures appropriate to the product.
Consider pH, water activity, and packaging
Where formulation or reduced-oxygen packaging affects pathogen growth, evaluate relevant product characteristics and establish appropriate control measures supported by scientific evidence.
Determine whether sanitation is a prerequisite or preventive control
Review equipment cleaning frequency, utensils, employee hygiene, product exposure, and protection of cleaned food-contact surfaces. Classify controls appropriately within the food safety system.
Verify environmental and facility controls
Where relevant, evaluate environmental monitoring, condensate, drainage, pest control, hygienic zoning, and facility maintenance.
Manage deviations and reassess the plan
Document affected product assessment, immediate correction, root cause, corrective action, verification, and reassessment when process changes or new information warrant it.
How Consultare Inc. Group Can Help
Consultare can support HACCP gap assessments, hazard analysis and HACCP plan development or review, process flow and time-temperature assessment, cooling control review, prerequisite program assessment, sanitation and environmental monitoring review, monitoring and verification procedures, and corrective action support. Applicable regulatory requirements should be confirmed for each product and facility.
Free Consultation
Need Help Managing Your HACCP Responsibilities?
Whether you are developing or reviewing a HACCP plan, evaluating cooling and pathogen growth risks, strengthening sanitation procedures, or improving verification, request a free consultation through HACCPServices.com. Discuss your products, processes, hazard analysis, and food safety program. You can also create a free SystemsBuilder account to organize your compliance documentation and processes.
Start Building Your Compliance System
If you prefer to organize and manage your compliance activities yourself, you can also create a free SystemsBuilder account and begin building a structured system for your compliance documentation and processes.
The right time to strengthen process controls, sanitation, and documentation is before a compliance gap becomes a business problem.