Kitchen safety is a complicated issue. The foundation of this safety is critical control points, which ensure key safety processes happen at specific points.
HACCP food safety rules govern these critical control points. These set out the nature, location and purpose of control points.
A network of kitchen labels and signs help to enforce critical control points. These allow kitchen staff to work safely in a fast-paced environment.
Below, we discuss what critical control points are, their purpose, how the HACCP plays a role and the importance of having high-quality kitchen labels.
HACCP Meaning and Food Safety
So, what does HACCP mean? The acronym refers to “Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point”. Having a HACCP platform is required by law in the UK; it isn’t a choice.
The management platform lists hazards and their related critical control points. HACCP ensures there is always a roadmap to identify, solve and record problems.
A HACCP system has seven steps similar to a risk assessment:
- Perform a hazard analysis
- Outline critical control points
- State critical control point limits
- Put in place a monitoring system
- State the corrective actions
- Map out verification procedures
- Set out steps for record-keeping
Examples of Critical Control Points
In total, there are several key critical control points:
- Food purchasing – checking suppliers, condition of goods and receipts
- Delivery – record-keeping, temperature regulation and transferring
- Storage – storage types, containers and temperature
- Production – preventing cross-contamination, noting allergens, cooking instructions
- Personal hygiene – handwashing, training and equipment
- Cleaning – cleaning process, materials, training and waste management
There are other critical control points, but for the most part, these change on a case-by-case basis. Different kitchens need different controls, with each having unique requirements for staff, the type of kitchen they have and the food they cook.
Each critical control point has a number of hazards with an equal number of solutions. By ensuring this is always balanced, kitchens can stay safe and clean.
How Labels Influence Critical Control Points
We have only listed several critical control points above. In actuality, there may be dozens in place. Remembering all of these processes can prove difficult, which is why many kitchens use a network of labels and signs.
These labels and signs are used in conjunction with training to help staff identify, respond and record any potential hazards. In the hustle and bustle of a kitchen, it can be easy to forget key steps – this is where labels come in.
We’ve covered the importance of kitchen signs previously in our blog: Kitchen Nightmares: The Costs of Improper Kitchenware Safety Symbols
They act as brief, effective reminders to follow their training and the critical control point measures. Without them, businesses run a greater risk of human error.
Browse High-Quality Kitchen Labels Today
If you work in a kitchen, then you need high-quality kitchen labels. At Label Source, we pride ourselves on producing labels which last, meaning your workers can follow critical control points and safety procedures easily.
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