Question

(a) HACCP ensures food safety by identifying hazards. Give its full form.
(b) Describe four levels of food standards.

Hint:

HACCP focuses on identifying and controlling food safety hazards at critical points during food production and processing.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept: HACCP is an internationally recognized, systematic preventive approach to food safety.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation: The full form of the acronym is:
Hazard
Analysis
Critical
Control
Point
It functions by identifying potential biological, chemical, or physical hazards in the production process and establishing control mechanisms at critical points to prevent these hazards from making the food unsafe.
Step 3: Final Answer: The full form is Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point.

(b) Step 1: Understanding the Concept: Food standards are established rules and guidelines ensuring the safety, quality, and uniformity of food products. They operate hierarchically from local to global levels.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation: The four levels of food standards are:
1. Company Standards: These are internal rules set by an individual food manufacturing company for its own operations. They are designed to ensure product consistency, brand quality, and often exceed legal baseline requirements.
2. National Standards: These are established by the government bodies of a specific country to protect its citizens. They are legally enforceable within that nation. In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sets these national standards.
3. Regional Standards: These are agreements made between a group of geographically proximate nations to facilitate smooth trade within their region by harmonizing food laws (e.g., standards set by the European Union).
4. International Standards: These are universally recognized guidelines developed by global bodies, primarily the Codex Alimentarius Commission (jointly run by FAO and WHO). They aim to protect global consumer health and ensure fair practices in international food trade.
Step 3: Final Answer: Standards exist at internal company, national legal, regional trade, and international global levels.