Re: inquiry about cold storage being considered as CCP

From: Greg Peters (Petersg@arctic.net)
Date: Fri Oct 07 2005 - 11:06:29 PDT

  • Next message: Larry Wyatt: "Re: inquiry about cold storage being considered as CCP"

    I have a different opinion on CCPs. If you find that a hazard is
    reasonably likely to occur and there is a control step that will prevent
    harm to a consumer it is a CCP. For the example Larry used of a metal
    detector, if that hazard is reasonably likely to occur, as in surimi,
    there better be a CCP to control it.

    Cold storage would generally not be a CCP because pathogen growth in
    cold storage is not reasonably likely to occur. The execption would be
    for a product that may already contain parasites that will be consumed
    raw. The freezing step may be used as a CCP to inactivate the parasite.

    Greg

    Larry Wyatt wrote:

    > Alma,
    >
    > I just want to offer my thoughts on the absence of a CCP for a product
    > or a process. After you have conducted a Hazard Analysis and even
    > though you find a hazard, does not mean that you have to have a CCP.
    > If the hazard cannot be controlled by a specific point in the process,
    > it is not a CCP. You may have Control Points (CP) that are part of
    > GMP's and SOP's that are used to control a hazard and not have a CCP
    > in your HACCP program.
    >
    > An example is metal detection. A metal detector is after the fact.
    > It doesn't control getting metal into the product, it helps control
    > getting metal contaminated product to the consumer. It is not a CCP,
    > but it is a CP and should be controlled as such. The same would be
    > true for refrigeration. Storing perishable products at ambient
    > temperatures would allow contaminated product and probably unsafe
    > product to get to a consumer. However, refrigerated storage is after
    > the fact and does not control the process for pathogens on the product.
    >
    > This does not do away with monitoring and controlling CP's since they
    > are part of the process, but their administration is addressed as part
    > of the GMP program or process SOP and would be intact with or without
    > a HACCP program.
    >
    > I have seen HACCP programs with 300 CCP's and programs with 0 CCP's.
    > The one with 300 actually should have been 0 CCP also. The key is to
    > conduct a valid hazard analysis and to identify what is a true CCP vs.
    > a CP.
    >
    > Larry Wyatt
    > FoodHorizon Inc.
    > www.foodhorizon.com
    >
    > Richard Chivers wrote:
    >
    >>
    >> Hi Alma,
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> These are my views:
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 1. There are no EU directives that set CCPs, these are up to the
    >> processor to determine.
    >> 2. I assume you refer to the Competent Authority. I would not
    >> consider cold (frozen) storage a CCP simply because a product
    >> that is intended to be kept in be frozen condition would be in
    >> breach of specifications and GMP, drawing in quality and safety
    >> issues. I would set the temperature control as a prerequisite
    >> programme; a given if you like. I.e. if the product temperature
    >> were outside the limits, that would be the end of it for its
    >> primary purpose and disposal or alternative use should be
    >> considered.
    >> 3. Pathogen growth is unlikely to present a food safety hazard due
    >> to the reasonable expectation that the product would be cooked.
    >> That is unless there were an issue with spore formers or with
    >> heat resistant toxins then there would be a problem. These
    >> matters would be highlighted in the analysis part of the HACCP.
    >> Unfortunately it is not an argument that sways opinion in
    >> international trade which will set stringent micro counts.
    >> 4. It is not illegal but may mean that your analysis was invalid if
    >> a CCP were missed. In the UK this alone would not lead to
    >> prosecution but could become evidence to support a prosecution
    >> if there were more serious matters arising from temperature
    >> abuse i.e. food poisoning.
    >>
    >>
    >> I hope this helps
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Richard Chivers
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> -----Original Message-----
    >> *From:* owner-seafood@ucdavis.edu
    >> [mailto:owner-seafood@ucdavis.edu]*On Behalf Of *alma tina
    >> *Sent:* 07 October 2005 06:34
    >> *To:* seafood@ucdavis.edu
    >> *Subject:* inquiry about cold storage being considered as CCP
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Dear List,
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Please give me some insight or enlightening regarding the issue of
    >> considering cold storage as CCP.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> These are my questions:
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> 1.Is there an EU directives that considers storing at cold storage as
    >> CCP.
    >>
    >> 2.Can the competitive authority insist on us to consider storing at
    >> cold storage as CCP.
    >>
    >> 3. Is my thinking correct, that since our product is to be fully
    >> cooked before consumption, then pathogen growth is not a hazard? By
    >> the way our products are frozen octopus and shrimps.
    >>
    >> 4. Is it illegal not to have CCP for a particular item?
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Plese provide some information on this issue, we badly needed the info.
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Thanks,
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> Alma O. Tina
    >>
    >> almaorodiotina@yahoo.com
    >>
    >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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    >
    >



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