HACCP

The Institute of Food Technologists (1FT) sponsors each year a two-day short course that covers a topic of major importance to the food industry. "Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points" was the title for the short course which was held May 31-June 1, 1991, immediately prior to the 51st Annual 1FT Meeting. These short courses have been published as a proceedings in previous years; however, the current and future importance of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system prompted publication of the 1991 short course as a book. This book is designed to serve as a reference on the principles and application of HACCP for those in quality control/assurance, technical man agement, education and related areas who are responsible for food safety man agement. The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) published in November 1989 a pamphlet titled "HACCP Principles for Food Production" (Appendix A). This document dealt with HACCP as applied to the microbiological safety of foods; however, the principles can be modified to apply to chemical, physical and other hazards in foods. The principles rec ommended by the NACMCF have been widely recognized and adopted by the food industry and regulatory agencies. Implementation of these principles pro vides a proactive, preventive system for managing food safety. HACCP should be applied at all stages of the food system, from production to consumption.