Which of the following is a component of the HACCP-based inspection process used by FSIS inspectors?

• A. Inspection Methodology
• B. Hazard Analysis
• C. Prerequisites Programs & Support Documentation
• D. Public Health Inspection System (PHIS)

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that FSIS’s HACCP-based inspection relies on a defined Inspection Methodology. This methodology provides the step-by-step framework inspectors use in the field to apply HACCP principles—how they observe processes, verify critical controls, review records, collect samples, and make compliance decisions. It directly governs how the inspection is carried out, ensuring consistency across plants.

Hazard Analysis is a foundational part of HACCP, but it belongs to the plant’s HACCP plan rather than the inspection process framework itself. Prerequisites Programs & Support Documentation are important supports for HACCP, yet they’re components of the broader system rather than the specific inspection workflow. Public Health Inspection System (PHIS) is not a HACCP component and refers to a separate data or reporting system rather than the method inspectors use to conduct HACCP-based inspections.