Hi Jon Pall,
I've enjoyed this debate. Please don't take my comments personally, as they
are constructed to support my side of the issue. You've provided ample
support for your side, to much of which I agree. Doug
-----Original Message-----
Behalf Of Jon Pall Hreinsson
"I am would nevertheless be more interested in getting feedback on the
progression and implementation of HACCP in the US. What I have heard is that
enforcing the HACCP has been a problem"
Why is this the case? Very simple -- there are too many small and seasonal
processors and too few inspectors. The US is a very big country, both in
terms of population and in terms of geography. I would argue that the vast
majority of processors have implemented HACCP, just not all have every
detail in order to be "fully compliant". This does not mean that their
products are unsafe. Most processors were producing a safe product before
HACCP, which implies that they had "control" of the food safety hazards
before HACCP. HACCP is simply a management tool, not a panacea for unsafe
practices.
Let me ask you a question. What is the temperature of your home
refrigerator? Have you even checked? If so, how often do you monitor and
do you keep records? Do you have a written procedure to correct a
deviation? What temperature should your home refrigerator be? Do you have
leftovers in the back of the refrigerator that may pose a food safety hazard
to an unsuspecting house guest? Given your answers to these questions, do
you believe you operate your home environment in a manner that would be
fully compliant with HACCP? If not, do you believe it is unsafe to consume
food products in your home?
"and government institurion do not agree on how and who should enforce these
regulations"
On the contrary, only US FDA has authority for enforcing regulations. There
is no ambiguity here.
********************************************
Douglas L. Marshall, Ph.D.
Professor, Mississippi State University
Contributing Editor, Food Microbiology
Department of Food Science & Technology
Room 110 Herzer, Stone Blvd (FedEx)
Box 9805 (USPS)
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9805
Ph 662-325-8722
Fax 662-325-8728
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/fst/Homepage
********************************************
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