Key Elements of HACCP for Ensuring Food Safety in the Industry

Within the food industry, there are few things as important as hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP). This is the method that all businesses utilize to ensure food safety and not endanger the well-being of customers. Companies in this industry need to make sure they conduct HACCP planning and have their processes mapped out for employees to follow. Of course, this is much easier when a business in the food industry is committed to principles and key elements associated with HACCP. That’s why we wanted to take a closer look at all of the key elements of hazard analysis and critical control points for the food industry. 

Start with a Hazard Analysis 

The entire HACCP process has to start with a hazard analysis. This might be a long and complicated process, but it’s the foundation of everything that will follow. Every company needs to understand the potential hazards that can arise at any part of the process, where exactly that hazard could pop up, the potential complications of that hazard, and what can be done to eliminate or mitigate that hazard. This will help to kick off the entire HACCP process. 

Identify Control Points 

Naturally, every food company needs to be able to identify the control points that will guide everything in their operations. These control points are crucial because they serve as the specific stages in the food production and handling process where potential hazards can be effectively managed or mitigated. In other words, at what point do food safety concerns become a reality, and how can they be addressed before they escalate into serious issues?

For each type of food and every step of the process, it’s possible for there to be various control points, each with its own unique set of challenges and requirements. This means that a business may need to identify dozens or even hundreds of control points to help guide food safety practices comprehensively. By doing so, companies can ensure that they are taking a proactive approach to food safety, addressing potential risks at every stage, from sourcing raw materials to the final delivery of products to consumers. This meticulous identification and management of control points are essential for maintaining high standards of food safety and protecting the health and well-being of consumers.

Create Monitoring Procedures 

Once the control points are known, companies need to have a method in place for monitoring those control points and other aspects of food safety. How will employees know when a control point has been breached if there aren’t monitoring procedures in place? There need to be methods in place to measure each critical control point, including how often those numbers need to be measured and how employees should go about taking and recording that data. 

Implement Corrective Actions 

Another key part of HACCP is understanding what to do when something goes wrong. If employees discover that a critical control point has been surpassed, what is the protocol? What can be done in the short term to salvage the food or should it be discarded? Equally important, what can be done in the future to prevent a similar problem? One element of HACCP is knowing what could go wrong and why it would go wrong so that it’s easy to understand why something went wrong and how to address the problem. 

Document Everything 

One aspect of HAACP that many companies miss is documenting everything. For many businesses, this might seem like busy work, but it’s far more important than that. If there is a record of all measurements taken, it’s easy to spot trends and identify if critical control points are being threatened before reaching the point of no return. Even if an issue can’t be prevented, if there is a documented record of what happened, it’ll be easier to come up with prevention techniques in the future. 

Keep Your Workers Protected 

Obviously, food safety is of the utmost importance in this industry, but so is worker safety. Businesses need to make sure they’re doing everything possible to keep employees safe and healthy. This is why the safety management software from EHS Insight is a perfect fit for this industry. Our system can help track hazards, safety training, and compliance matters to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to protecting workers on the job. It’s a proven method of protecting workers and creating the safest work environment possible.