The Essential Guide To HACCP

(Almost) Everything you need to know

What is HACCP?

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) is an internationally recognized method of identifying and managing food safety related risk and, when central to an active food safety program, can provide your customers, the public, and regulatory agencies assurance that a food safety program is well managed.

HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.

Today, many of the world’s best manufacturers and vendors use the system as a basis for their food safety management programs and for compliance with GFSI audit schemes.

Through analysis of hazards and where they can occur, Safe Food Alliance of California helps implement systems and procedures to minimize risk. Safe Food Alliance provides a truly hands-on food safety management system at each and every operation in assisting in the management of critical control points.

A food safety program, however, does not just stop with HACCP. To be effective, prerequisite programs such as pest control, traceability & recall, hygiene and sanitation need to be developed and implemented. Additionally, the issue of ensuring that suppliers and distributors also have a food safety program needs to be addressed through development of ingredient specifications and a vendor assurance system.

Why is HACCP Important?

Proper implementation of a HACCP program helps reduce the likelihood of customer complaints or a recall by identifying and controlling potential hazards which may come from raw materials, facility processes, and human error. The greater employee awareness that results from a HACCP program helps to drive continual improvement of a company’s products and processes.

Additionally, the HACCP principles are in alignment with the requirements of the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rule for food processors — Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls (“HARPC” or “Preventive Controls”). Although a HACCP plan does not meet all of the requirements, it meets the majority of the requirements and is the best platform from which to build a FSMA-compliant management system.

The Preliminary Steps to Creating a HACCP Plan

1. Assemble your HACCP Team

2. Describe your product

3. Identify the intended use of your product

4. Construct a Flow Diagram

5. Conduct onsite confirmation of the flow diagram

How to Write a HACCP Plan

Basic food safety principles applied in food processing and handling are no longer enough for the modern day customer. Industry standards have far surpassed regulatory requirements. There are several reasons behind the demand of increasing levels of food safety efficacy systems. The most important: ‘consumers’ health is never compromised by consuming adequate food.” When achieving food safety in a product there are only positive outcomes, such as assuring part of business continuity and regulatory compliance, brand protection and customer trust. In order to assure food safety, a methodology that can greatly contribute through documentation, implementation, and maintenance the HACCP Plan (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points).

All elements of HACCP should be set in consecutive flow so that when consulted or reviewed, everything is aligned to the methodology.

Our HACCP Learning Library

Upcoming Training

[tribe_events_list  category="haccp"]

HACCP Training

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam at iaculis lacus. Sed feugiat, dolor eu mattis aliquet, urna ipsum ullamcorper ex, at convallis ex erat sit amet nulla. Nunc ut enim pellentesque, consequat augue sit amet,

HACCP Certification

Safe Food Certifications is proud to be the sole provider of the DFA Food Safety Standard v10.6/HACCP Verification Audit.
Learn More About HACCP Verification Audits

TOP