Search

Glossary of Food Safety Terms

Below is a list of helpful definitions (with common pronunciations in parenthesis where applicable) for everyday acronyms and terms used in the food safety industry. If you have any suggestions or additions, please email communications@safefoodalliance.com.
AOAC
Association of Official Analytical Chemists
BRCGS
British Retail Consortium
CB
Certification Body
DPR
(California) Department of Pesticide Regulation
DV Audits
Direct Verification Audits
ELAP
(“eeh-lap”) Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
EU
European Union
FD&C
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
FDA
United States Food & Drug Administration
FSIS
Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSMA
(“fizz-muh”) Food Safety Modernization Act
FSMS
Food Safety Management System
FSPCA
Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance
FSSC 22000
Food Safety System Certification
FSVP
Foreign Supplier Verification Program
GAP
Good Agricultural Practices
GFSI
Global Food Safety Initiative
GMP
Good Manufacturing Practices
GRAS
Generally Recognized As Safe
HACCP
(“hassip”) Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
HARPC
(“harp-sea”) Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls
IFS
International Food Standard
ISO
International Organization for Standardization
MRL
Maximum Residue Limit
PCQI
Preventive Controls Qualified Individuals
SFC
Safe Food California
SQF
Safe Quality Food
SQFI
Safe Quality Food Institute
SSOP
Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure
TASC Grant
(“task grant”) Technical Assistance Specialty Crop Grant
TCS
Time/Temperature Control for Safety
UNECE
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe