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Food Safety System Fundamentals 

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Food Safety System Fundamentals 

Objectives 

1. Define “system” and give an example. 

2. List two basic components of a food safety system and describe their relationship 

to each other. 

3. Describe “systems thinking” and its application to food safety systems and 

assessing inspection findings. 

System Definition 

An assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary 

whole: a mountain system; a railroad system. 

Note: Often systems exist within systems. Example: railroad system within the 

transportation system 

A coordinated body of methods or a scheme or plan of procedure 

Does FSIS have methods/plans/procedures for regulating meat and poultry 

producers? 

Do food establishments have methods/plans/procedures to ensure safe food 

products? 

Food safety system – fill in the answers for each term in the space provided. 

Purpose 

Evidence of failure 

General causes of failure 

Design Deficiencies 

Hazards or preventive measures not identified 

Programs/plans are not supported and effective 

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Food Safety System Fundamentals 

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Programs/plans not maintained/reassessed (not re-evaluated routinely, after 

failures, or upon changes) 

Execution Deficiencies 

Poor execution of programs/plans. For example, not performing activities 

necessary to ensure product or process control, not maintaining records to 

demonstrate implementation and effectiveness of programs or plans, not 

taking appropriate follow-up actions to address deficiencies in execution of 

programs or plans, or not verifying that the programs or plans are being 

implemented. 

Consequences of food safety system failure 

Lack/loss of control, but no resultant food safety hazard 

Isolated event vs. recurring events 

Lack/loss of control resulting in an unsafe food 

May impact another processor’s system (e.g. undeclared allergen passed on 

to next processor) 

Lack/loss of control with food safety hazard and adverse health outcomes 

(illness/injury/death) 

Group Exercise - list the components of a food safety system. 

Hazard Analysis 

Food Safety Hazard- Any biological, chemical, or physical property that may 

cause a food to be unsafe for human consumption 

Reasonably Likely To Occur - a hazard for which a prudent establishment would 

establish controls because it historically has occurred, or because there is a 

reasonable possibility that it will occur in the particular type of product being 

processed, in the absence of those controls 

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Prerequisite Definition 

“Prerequisite” means required beforehand, precondition 

The World Health Organization defines prerequisite program as practices and 

conditions needed prior to and during the implementation of HACCP and which are 

essential for food safety. 

Prerequisite programs provide a foundation for an effective HACCP system. 

They are often facility-wide programs rather than process or product specific. 

They may reduce the likelihood of certain hazards. 

Prerequisite Program Examples 

 Cleaning and sanitation  Allergen control 

 Pest control  Personal hygiene 

 Facilities & grounds  Training 

 Air system/Ventilation  Supplier control 

 Water quality  Specifications 

 Chemical control  Receiving, storage, shipping 

 Production equipment  Traceability/Recall 

 Cross contamination prevention  GMPs 

Food Safety System Basic Components 

HACCP Plan 

Controls food safety hazards that are reasonably likely to occur 

Product and process specific 

Prerequisites 

Measures, procedures, and programs that provide a foundation for the HACCP 

system 

Facility wide 

May support determinations that a food safety hazard is not reasonably likely to 

occur 

Systems Video – key points about food safety systems: 

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Food Safety System Fundamentals 

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Composed of many interdependent parts 

Subject to external disturbances 

Dynamic. Conditions change 

Conditions may be normal variation or represent loss of control 

Each system is unique 

Systems Thinking Concepts 

Holistic system is any set (group) of interdependent parts. The parts generally are 

systems themselves. 

Understand the parts in relation to the whole. (linkages) 

Understand how things influence one another within a whole. (interactions) 

Understand the parts of a system in the context of relationships with each other and 

other systems, rather than in isolation. 

Car Brake System Example: 

Describe the purpose, components and operation of the brake system 

Describe how the parts of the brake system relate to each other and impact the 

function of the system 

Describe how the brake system relates to and impacts other systems in the car. 

Describe how other systems in the car relate to and impact the brake system. 

Identify factors outside the car that impact the brake system. 

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BONUS QUESTION: What would you do if your brake system failed posing a 

safety risk to you and others? 

SUBSTITUTION: Try substituting the name of any part of the food safety system 

(e.g. the name of a prerequisite program or part of the HACCP plan) in place of 

“brake system”. Use “food safety system” for “car”. 

Purpose, Linkage, and Interaction 

Throughout this course, you should seek to understand how the components of the 

food safety system relate to each other and how changes or deficiencies in one part 

of the system may affect the adequacy of other parts of the system. Always 

consider your findings in the context of the food safety system. What do they 

indicate about the adequacy of the food safety system? 

To conduct a proper assessment, you will often need to gather additional 

information. Consider whether the system is working or not working. Has 

adulterated product has been produced and shipped? Are there recurring 

issues/trends indicating the food safety system is not working? Are there findings 

that when considered collectively indicate the system isn’t working? Considering the 

“Big Picture” is crucial to protecting public health. 

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