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Hygiene Management and Process Control with HACCP

Food and Beverage Manufacturing · 飲食料品製造業 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

HACCP Basics and the Three Types of Hazards

HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis (HA) and Critical Control Point (CCP). It is a preventive hygiene management system that analyzes hazards across all processes from raw material receiving to shipping and continuously monitors critical steps to prevent accidents before they happen.

HACCP is effective only when built on a solid foundation of General Hygiene Management (such as facility cleaning and handwashing). Small-scale businesses implement Hygiene Management Incorporating the HACCP Concept using industry association guidebooks.

The three types of hazards to control are: (1) Biological hazards (bacteria, viruses, parasites), (2) Chemical hazards (detergents, sanitizers, pesticide residues, histamine, allergens), and (3) Physical hazards (metal fragments, glass, stones, hard bones, etc.).

Key points


  • HACCP consists of Hazard Analysis (HA) and Critical Control Points (CCP), built upon General Hygiene Management.

  • The three hazard categories are Biological (bacteria, etc.), Chemical (chemicals, allergens, etc.), and Physical (metal, glass, stones, etc.).

  • Rather than relying only on final product sampling, HACCP aims to prevent hazards throughout the entire production process.
WordMeaning
Hazard Analysis (HA)
Critical Control Point (CCP)
biological hazard
chemical hazard
physical hazard

The 12 Steps of HACCP (5 Preliminary Steps and Principles 1 & 2)

HACCP is implemented through 12 steps consisting of 5 preliminary steps and 7 principles. Step 1 is Assemble the HACCP Team, and Step 2 is Describe the Product (summarizing ingredients, storage conditions, etc.).

Step 3 is Identify Intended Use and Consumers (such as whether heating is required and whether infants or the elderly are targeted); Step 4 is Construct the Flow Diagram; and Step 5 is On-site Confirmation of the Flow Diagram.

Step 6 (Principle 1) is Conduct a Hazard Analysis (HA) to list hazards and control measures for each process. Step 7 (Principle 2) is Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs) using tools like a Decision Tree for critical steps such as heat sterilization or metal detection.

Key points


  • The 5 preliminary steps are: (1) Assemble team -> (2) Product description -> (3) Intended use/consumers -> (4) Flow diagram -> (5) On-site confirmation.

  • Step 6 (Principle 1) is Hazard Analysis (HA), and Step 7 (Principle 2) is Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs).

  • Heat sterilization processes and metal detector inspection steps are representative Critical Control Points (CCPs).
WordMeaning
product description sheet
manufacturing process flow diagram
decision tree
heat sterilization

HACCP Principles 3 to 7 and Responding to Deviations

Step 8 (Principle 3) is Establish Critical Limits (CL). Critical limits must be set using objective numbers—such as a core temperature of 75°C for at least 1 minute or specific sanitizer concentration and soaking time—rather than vague human senses. Step 9 (Principle 4) is Establish a Monitoring System to track compliance with the CL.

Step 10 (Principle 5) is Establish Corrective Actions when a CL deviation occurs. If heating or cooling temperatures fail to meet standards, stop the line, report to the supervisor, isolate and hold the affected product lot, and correct the root cause.

Step 11 (Principle 6) is Establish Verification Procedures to confirm the HACCP plan works effectively, including calibrating thermometers with ice water (0°C) and scales with standard weights. Step 12 (Principle 7) is Establish Record-Keeping; never use correction fluid for mistakes—cross out with a double line and stamp/sign.

HACCP Principles 3 to 7 and Responding to Deviations

Key points


  • Set Critical Limits (CL) using specific measurable values (temperature, time, concentration) rather than subjective expressions.

  • When monitoring detects a deviation from a CL, stop production, report immediately, and isolate/hold the affected lot.

  • Regularly calibrate thermometers and scales, and correct record errors using a double line rather than correction fluid.
WordMeaning
Critical Limit (CL)
monitoring
corrective action
verification
calibration
double-line correction

Inspection Equipment Control and Traceability

Check metal detectors before, during, and after production by passing iron (Fe) and stainless steel (SUS) test pieces together with a product through the center of the tunnel to verify sensitivity and the rejecter mechanism. If a test piece is not detected, do not start production—report immediately.

X-ray foreign object detectors can detect stones, glass, hard bones, and metal, and are effective even for products in aluminum-laminated packaging. Checkweighers inspect for over- or under-weight packages (for example, 300g ± 10g means 290–310g passes).

Use sanitized potable water for cooling after heat sterilization to prevent contamination through microscopic pinholes, keep retention samples for each lot, and ship products under a temperature-controlled Cold Chain.

Traceability is the system for tracking ingredient suppliers, production lots, and shipping destinations; it is essential for rapid voluntary recalls and root-cause investigation if a safety issue arises.

Key points


  • Test metal detectors with iron (Fe) and stainless steel (SUS) test pieces and verify that the rejecter operates properly.

  • X-ray detectors can spot stones, glass, hard bones, and metal, and work even on aluminum-packaged products.

  • Traceability enables tracking affected lots and executing swift voluntary recalls when problems occur.
WordMeaning
metal detector
test piece
X-ray foreign object detector
checkweigher (weight sorter)
traceability
cold chain

Workplace Calculations (Dilution, Yield, Defect Rate, Production Planning)

Perform sanitizer and seasoning calculations accurately. Because 1% equals 10,000 ppm, making 10 L (10,000 mL) of 200 ppm sanitizer from 5% (50,000 ppm) sodium hypochlorite requires 10,000 x 200 / 50,000 = 40 mL of stock solution plus water up to a total volume of 10 L.

To make 10,000 g of 3% salt water, mix 300 g of salt (10,000 x 0.03) with 9,700 g of water. Also, if vegetables have a 90% yield rate (edible portion), obtaining 90 kg of usable ingredient requires 90 / 0.9 = 100 kg of raw vegetables.

If 10 defective units occur out of 500 units produced, the defect rate is 10 / 500 x 100 = 2%. For production time, packing 2,400 units on a machine that packs 40 units per minute takes 2,400 / 40 = 60 minutes.

If 3 workers who each pack 10 boxes per minute (30 boxes/min total) pack 1,200 boxes, it takes 1,200 / 30 = 40 minutes; packing 480 products into cartons holding 24 units each yields 480 / 24 = 20 cartons.

Key points


  • To prepare 10 L of 200 ppm sanitizer from a 5% (50,000 ppm) stock solution, add water to 40 mL of stock solution to make 10 L.

  • Making 10,000 g of 3% brine requires 300 g salt and 9,700 g water; getting 90 kg at a 90% yield requires 100 kg of raw material.

  • Defect rate (%) = Defective units / Total units produced x 100 (10 defects out of 500 units is 2%).
WordMeaning
dilution
undiluted stock solution
yield rate (edible ratio)
defect rate

Food Labeling, Allergen Control, and Packaging Inspection

Under the Food Labeling Standards, ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight, and food additives must be weighed accurately and labeled. Mandatory nutrition labeling covers five items: Energy (calories), Protein, Fat, Carbohydrates, and Salt Equivalent, along with the manufacturer's name and address.

Perishable foods like bento boxes and delicatessen items display a Use-by Date (Shohikigen), while shelf-stable foods like snacks and canned goods display a Best-before Date (Shomikigen). Both apply only when the package remains unopened and is stored according to labeled instructions.

Eight specific raw materials (mandatory allergens) that cause severe allergic reactions must be labeled by law: Shrimp, Crab, Walnut, Wheat, Buckwheat (Soba), Egg, Milk, and Peanut (while soybean, sesame, pork, mackerel, etc. are recommended items).

To prevent allergen cross-contamination, schedule non-allergen products before allergen-containing products and thoroughly wash equipment afterward. In packaging, verify labels against the product specification sheet and inspect seals carefully for trapped food (seal defects).

Key points


  • List ingredients in descending order by weight; use Use-by Dates (Shohikigen) for perishable foods and Best-before Dates (Shomikigen) for shelf-stable foods.

  • The 8 mandatory allergens are Shrimp, Crab, Walnut, Wheat, Buckwheat, Egg, Milk, and Peanut.

  • Produce non-allergen items first, and inspect packages for labeling errors and food caught in heat seals.
WordMeaning
use-by date (Shohikigen, for perishable foods)
best-before date (Shomikigen, for shelf-stable foods)
specific raw materials (8 mandatory allergens)
nutrition facts labeling
product caught in package seal (seal defect)

HACCP and Production Process

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Official references