What is HACCP's role in FSIS regulation?

• A. HACCP regulations must be followed to ensure products are handled and held in a sanitary manner.
• B. HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Consumer Protection Program.
• C. HACCP is unrelated to FSIS.
• D. HACCP applies only to packaging.

Answer: (D)

HACCP in FSIS regulation is a preventive, science-based framework for ensuring meat and poultry safety by identifying hazards and placing controls at points where they can be prevented, eliminated, or reduced to safe levels. HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, and within FSIS-regulated plants you analyze each step of production to identify biological, chemical, or physical hazards, establish critical control points, monitor those points, take corrective actions when needed, verify the system works, and keep records. This approach covers the entire process—from handling and processing to cooking, cooling, and packaging—not just packaging. So the idea that HACCP applies only to packaging doesn’t fit, and the acronym is not Consumer Protection Program.