HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. HACCP started off with 3 principles which now have evolved to 7 principles in order to ensure the highest quality for the production and preparation of food and many more activities related to the Food Business. HACCP Certification provides many benefits to organizations, subject to the HACCP principles being implemented effectively in the organization on a continuous basis as routine practices.
The 7 principles of HACCP are as follows:
1) Implementing a Hazard Analysis
This principle is carried out by listing the steps involved in the processing and figuring out if there is any potential for biological, chemical, or physical properties which may cause adverse effects on human beings.
2) Determine Critical Control Point
Once you identify the hazards, the next step is to determine the Critical Control Points (CCP). CCPs are points, procedures, or processes in which control can be applied in order for a food safety hazard to be prevented, eliminated, or reduced to acceptable standards.
3) Determine Critical Limits for Each CCP
Each CCP requires Critical Limits to distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable limits. The main purpose of a critical limit is to identify if a potential hazard is within an acceptable limit or not.
If the limit is exceeded, then necessary actions should be put in place to correct the situation. In some particular cases, more than one critical limit is required to control a food safety hazard.
4) Plant Monitoring Procedures for CCP
Once you’ve set in place what you’ll be measuring, it is time to now find out how you’ll be measuring. Here is where monitoring procedures come to play.
Monitoring procedures include how the measurement is taken when the measurement is taken, who is responsible to keep track of the measurement and how frequently is the measurement taken.
This is to ensure that all CCPs are observed and noted down for any possible changes that could be hazardous. Critical limits are also watched during this process.
5) Establish Corrective Action
After the implementation of the morning procedures, it is time for you to establish Corrective Action. These are actions that are taken when the results of monitoring for CCPs display that the limit is exceeded.
It requires the identification of the steps which are needed to be taken to prevent potentially harmful food from entering the food chain.
6) Institute Verification Procedures
Verification involves the implementation of plans, procedures, and other evaluations in addition to monitoring to ensure that the HACCP protocols are followed.
7) Implement Record Keeping
Maintaining HACCP records properly can be useful to prove that the food is produced efficiently. This principle involves identifying which control points were more troublesome than the others and also shows that the system is working as intended.
If corrective actions are taken, then those should also be recorded.
An organization in the food supply chain business is advised to implement HACCP principles in the process for Food Safety and get HACCP Certification for Brand building of the organization.