What is the purpose of verification procedures in a HACCP plan?

The purpose of verification procedures in a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan is fundamentally to ensure adherence to established critical limits. These procedures involve checking and validating that the processes are functioning as intended and that the food safety measures are effectively controlling potential hazards identified during the hazard analysis phase.

Verification activities can include reviewing monitoring records, conducting calibrations of measurement devices, and performing audits to assess compliance with critical limits for temperature, time, pH, and other control measures. This ongoing verification process helps to confirm that the HACCP plan is being followed correctly and is effectively preventing food safety issues, ultimately ensuring the safety of the food product.

In contrast, recording cooking temperatures, analyzing hazards, and identifying critical control points are essential parts of developing and implementing a HACCP plan but are distinct from the verification procedures that focus specifically on ensuring that the established critical limits are being met and maintained.