Food Safety Systems Glossary of Terms

The level of a food safety hazard not to be exceeded in the end product provided by the organization.

Approval by an accreditation body confirming the management systems and competence of a certification body to provide certification services against a specified Standard.

A measurable or observable specification for the monitoring of an Operational Prerequisite Programme (OPRP) as per ISO 22000. An action criterion is established to determine whether an OPRP remains in control. When the action criterion is met, the OPRP is operating in control, when the action criterion is not met the OPRP is not operating in control, this is unacceptable and action should be taken as prescribed in the Hazard Control Plan (HACCP/OPRP Plan).

The addition of an undeclared material into a food item for economic gain.

A company that facilitates trade between an organization and their raw material or packaging suppliers, but does not at any point own or take title to the goods.

A space which permits the passage of people and materials between one area and another with two doors in series which do not open simultaneously, and thus minimises the transfer of pests, dust, odours, or air from one area to the other.

A known component of food which causes physiological reactions due to an immunological response (e.g. nuts and others identified in legislation relevant to the country of production or sale).

Food causing an adverse reaction that is mediated by an immunological response.
Defined allergens are:

• Cereals containing gluten (i.e. wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut or their hybridised strains) and products thereof
• Crustaceans and products thereof
• Eggs and products thereof
• Fish and products thereof
• Peanuts and products thereof
• Soybeans and products thereof
• Milk and products thereof (including lactose)
• Nuts i.e. Almond (Amygdalus communis L.), Hazelnut (Corylus avellana), Walnut (Juglans regia), Cashew (Anacardium occidentale), Pecan nut (Carya illinoiesis (Wangenh.) K. Koch), Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa), Pistachio nut (Pistacia vera), Macadamia nut and Queensland nut (Macadamia ternifolia) and products thereof
• Celery and products thereof
• Lupin and products thereof
• Molluscs and products thereof
• Mustard and products thereof
• Sesame seeds and products thereof
• Sulphur dioxide and sulphites at concentrations of more than 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/litre expressed as SO2.

Commission Directive 2007/68 EC of 27 November 2007 amending Annex III a to Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain food ingredients.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:310:0011:0014:EN:PDF

The eight foods identified by the law are

• Milk
• Eggs
• Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod)
• Crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp)
• Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Soybeans

These eight foods, and any ingredient that contains protein derived from one or more of them, are designated as “major food allergens' by FALCPA.
To help Americans avoid the health risks posed by food allergens, FDA enforces the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (the Act). The Act applies to the labeling of foods regulated by the FDA which includes all foods except poultry, most meats, certain egg products, and most alcoholic beverages which are regulated by other Federal agencies.
The Act requires that food labels must clearly identify the food source names of any ingredients that are one of the major food allergens or contain any protein derived from a major food allergen.
As a result, food labels help allergic consumers identify offending foods or ingredients so they can more easily avoid them.
While more than 160 foods can cause allergic reactions in people with food allergies, the law identifies the eight most common allergenic foods. These foods account for 90 percent of food allergic reactions and are the food sources from which many other ingredients are derived.

An ambient area designed, maintained and operating to a high hygienic standard where practices relating to personnel, ingredients, equipment, packaging and environment aim to minimise potential product contamination by pathogenic micro-organisms.

Products which are intended to be fed to non-food-producing animals.

An audit where the organization/site agrees the scheduled audit day in advance with the certification body.

Suppliers that have been assessed and approved by the organization based on risk assessment as capable of meeting the sites food safety requirements for materials and/or services supplied.

Person assigned by an Accreditation Body to perform an assessment of a Certification Body.

Products produced in accordance with a recognised product certification scheme, the status of which needs to be preserved through the production facility (An example schemes would be GlobalGAP or “Organic Certification” such as Soil Association Certification).

A rapid test for the cleanliness of surfaces based on ATP (adenosine triphosphate) – a substance used in energy transfer in cells and therefore detects the presence of biological material on a surface. The acceptable levels for a clean surface can be defined based on a short history of analysis. the test is It is based on the firefly's ATP luminescent reaction. The ATP collected from a surface reacts with Luciferin/Luciferase compounds present in the sample to create bioluminescence light. The amount of bioluminescence light is measured by the Luminometer and is expressed in Relative Light Units (RLU).

1.Systematic, independent and documented process for obtaining audit evidence and evaluating it objectively to determine the extent to which the audit criteria are fulfilled. An audit can be an internal audit (first-party) or an external audit (second party or third party), and it can be a combined audit (combining two or more disciplines).

2. A systematic examination to measure compliance of practices with a predetermined system, and whether the system is implemented effectively and is suitable to achieve objectives.

3.A systematic and independent examination of a site’s food safety system by a qualified food safety auditor to determine whether food safety, systems, hygiene and management activities are undertaken in accordance with that system documentation and comply with the requirements of the food safety standard.

A list of requirements available for use by an auditor when conducting an audit.

A person employed or contracted by a licensed certification body to audit a site’s food safety management system.

A person possessing the appropriate competence and skills to carry out an audit.

The owner of a brand logo or name who places the said logo or name on to retail products.

Products bearing the logo, copyright or address of a company that is not a retailer.

An organization that purchases products for resale to businesses such as manufacturers but not to the ultimate consumer.

1. Calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Primary standards of measurement are used to provide traceability to customer's instruments by calibration.

2. Set of operations that establish, under specified conditions, the relationship between values of quantities indicated by a measuring instrument or measuring system, or values represented by a material measure or a reference material and the corresponding values realized by standards.

A step at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent or eliminate a food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level.

A certified site at which activities are planned to control and manage a network of certified sub-sites within a multi-site programme.

A certificate is issued to a site by a licensed certification body following the successful completion of a food safety certification audit and/or a recertification audit.

Revocation of certification for a given period, pending remedial action on the part of the company.

Where certification is revoked. Certification may only be regained following successful completion of the full audit process.

Certification by a licensed certification body of a site’s food safety management system as complying with the relevant standard/scheme (e.g. SQF Code, BRC, etc.) as appropriate, following a certification audit or re-certification audit.

An audit of a site’s whole food safety management system, including a desk audit, where the site’s food safety management system is not currently certified.

An entity that has entered into a license agreement with the Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme authorizing it to certify a site’s food safety management system in accordance with the ISO / IEC 17065:2012 and the Standard/Scheme’s Criteria for Certification Bodies.

The period between a site’s certification/re-certification audits, typically annually.

A unique numerical provided by the Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme’s Owner and included in the certificate, issued to a site that has successfully completed a certification audit.

A specific requirement or statement of intent that a site must comply with in order to achieve certification.

The process of cleaning and disinfecting food processing equipment in its assembled position without the need for dismantling and cleaning the individual parts.

1. A body responsible for establishing internationally recognized standards, codes of practice and guidelines, of which HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) is one standard

2. The internationally recognized entity whose purpose is to guide and promote the elaboration and establishment of definitions, standards and requirements for foods, and to assist in their harmonization and, in doing so, to facilitate international trade. The Commission Secretariat comprises staff from the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. The Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted the principles of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP).

The entity with legal ownership of the site which is being audited against a Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme.

Demonstrable ability to apply skills, knowledge, and understanding of a task or subject to achieve intended results.

Meeting the regulatory or customer requirements concerning product safety and legality.

Fulfillment of a requirement.

An expert in an area, a person who may be registered to assist in the development, validation, verification, implementation, and maintenance of a food safety management system on behalf of client site in the food industry categories appropriate to their scope of registration.

The end-user of the finished product, commodity or service.

Any substance not intentionally added to food, which is present in such food as a result of the production (including operations carried out in crop husbandry, animal husbandry and veterinary medicine), manufacture, processing, preparation, treatment, packing, packaging, transport or holding of such food, or as a result of environmental contamination.

Introduction or occurrence of an unwanted organism, taint or substance to packaging, food or the food environment. Contamination includes physical, chemical, biological and allergen contamination. Contamination can also mean a correlation of packages among themselves.

Recurring activity to enhance performance.

Facilities that are contracted by a certified site to produce, process, pack and /or store part of or all of one or more products included in the site’s scope of certification. Contract manufacturers must follow the requirements outlined in the Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme.

A company that packages the final product into consumer packaging.

A person or organization providing services or materials.

To manage the conditions of an operation to maintain compliance with established criteria, and/or the state wherein correct procedures are being followed and criteria are being met.

The state wherein correct procedures are being followed and criteria are being met.

To take all necessary actions to ensure and maintain compliance with criteria established in the HACCP plan.

1. Any action and activity that can be used to prevent or eliminate a food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level.

2. Action or activity that is essential to prevent a significant food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level.

A document that is identifiable and for which revisions and removal from use can be tracked. The document is issued to identified individuals and their receipt of the document is recorded.

A thermal process designed to heat a food item to a minimum of 70°C for 2 minutes or equivalent. Alternative cooking processes may be accepted if they meet recognized national guidelines and are validated by scientific data.

An entity that does not manufacture or handle products but oversees and contributes to the food safety quality management system at a certified site.

1. Action to eliminate a detected non-conformity or deviation.

2. Action to eliminate a detected nonconformity. A correction includes the handling of potentially unsafe products and can, therefore, be made in conjunction with corrective action. A correction may be, for example, reprocessing, further processing and/or elimination of the adverse consequences of the non-conformity (such as disposal for other use or specific labeling).

1. Any action to be taken when the results of monitoring at the CCP indicate a loss of control.

2. Action to eliminate the cause of nonconformity and to prevent a recurrence. Corrective action includes cause analysis.

3. Action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity or other undesirable situation. Corrective action includes:

• Determining & documenting any immediate action required and taken.
  
• Determining the cause of the problem.
  
• Evaluating action needed on the identified cause.
  
• Determining if the problem exists elsewhere in the system and implement actions needed.
  
• Documenting the actions taken and the results of the action taken.
  
• Reviewing, verifying and documenting the effectiveness of action taken with objective evidence.
  

4. Action to eliminate the cause of a detected nonconformity, deviation or other undesirable situation.

Identified by the hazard analysis as essential in order to control the likelihood of introducing or proliferation of food safety hazards in the product and/or the environment.

The process by which a site manages an event (e.g. flood, fire) that adversely affects the site’s ability to provide continuity of supply of safe food, and requires the implementation of a crisis management plan.

A step in the process at which control measure(s) is(are) applied to prevent or reduce a significant food safety hazard to an acceptable level, and defined critical limit(s) and measurement enable the application of corrections.

A measurable value which separates acceptability from unacceptability. Critical limits are established to determine whether a CCP remains in control. If a critical limit is exceeded or not met, the products affected are to be handled as potentially unsafe products.

Material is unloaded at distribution premises, and handled, but not formally put away into storage.

1. A business or person to whom a service or product has been provided.

2. A buyer or person that purchases goods or services from a certified site.

3. A customer is a business company or person to whom products are sold.

A structured approach to determining and addressing the needs of an organization to which the company supplies products and which may be measured by the use of performance indicators.

A review of a site’s documentation by a licensed certification body, forming part of and being the initial stage of the certification audit to ensure the food safety management system documentation substantially meets the requirements of the Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme.

1. Failure to meet a critical limit.

2. Non-compliance with a requirement but there is no impact on food safety related to products and processes.

The point at which the product leaves the factory site or is no longer the responsibility of the company.

The transportation of goods within any container (goods on the move) by road, rail, air or ship.

Information required to be controlled and maintained by an organization and the medium on which it is contained. Documented information can be in any format and media, and from any source. Documented information can refer to the management system, information created in order for the organization to operate (documentation) or evidence of results achieved (records).

The determination of the relationship between the magnitude of exposure (dose) to a chemical, biological or physical agent and the severity and/or frequency of associated adverse health effects (response).

The extent to which planned activities are realized and planned results achieved.

An area of the factory where all products are fully enclosed and therefore not vulnerable to environmental contamination.

The ultimate consumer of a foodstuff, who will not use the food as part of any food business operation or activity.

A product that will undergo no further processing or transformation by the organization. A product that undergoes further processing or transformation by another organization is an end product in the context of the first organization and a raw material or an ingredient in the context of the second organization.

A program that includes pathogen or indicator swabbing as appropriate to detect risk in the sanitary conditions in the processing environment. Verification of the effectiveness of the pathogen controls that a facility has in place for high-risk foods.

A term applied to elements of the Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme that the site does not wish to be included in the certification audit, and has submitted a written request to the certification body to exclude, prior to commencement of any scheduled audit activity.
Normally, mandatory clauses cannot be exempted. The certification body will confirm the reasons for exemption as part of the site audit. The term also applies to products, processes or areas of the site that the site wishes to exclude from the audit.

The qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of the likely intake of biological, chemical, and physical agents via food as well as exposures from other sources if relevant.

The site’s premises at its street address. The production, manufacturing, or storage area where a product is produced, processed, packaged, and/or stored, and includes the processes, equipment, environment, materials, and personnel involved. The facility must be managed and supervised under the same operational management. The facility is the site audited during a site audit.

Factory inspections are carried out by any appropriate person to check conformity with good practices including hygiene, pest control, product control, fabrication and prevention of foreign material hazards.

Any single or multiple materials, whether processed, semi-processed, or raw, which is intended to be fed directly to food-producing animals.

The principles and practices applied to feed production and manufacturing to ensure that feed does not cause harm to animals or humans.

A systematic representation of the sequence of steps or operations and interactions of the steps in the process of production or manufacture of a particular food item.

1. Any substance, usually of animal or plant origin, intentionally consumed by humans, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed. May include water, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, materials included in a processed food product and any other substance identified by regulation (legislation) as a food.

2. Substance (ingredient), usually of animal or plant origin, whether processed, semi-processed or raw, which is intended for consumption, and includes drink, chewing gum and any substance which has been used in the manufacture, preparation or treatment of “food” but does not include cosmetics or tobacco or substances (ingredients) used only as drugs.

• food is intended for consumption by humans and animals, and includes feed and animal food;
• feed is intended to be fed to food-producing animals;
• animal food is intended to be fed to non-food-producing animals, such as pets.

A substance not normally consumed as a food by itself and not normally used as a typical ingredient of the food, the intentional addition of which to food is for a technological (including organoleptic) purpose to enhance the characteristics of such foods. Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste, appearance, or other qualities. The term does not include substances added to food for maintaining or improving nutritional qualities.

Food authenticity is ensuring that food or raw materials purchased and offered for sale are of the nature, quality, and substance expected.

The sequence of the stages in food production, processing, distribution, storage and handling of food and its ingredients, from primary production to consumption.

Procedures adopted to assure the safety of materials and products from malicious contamination or theft.

Activities associated with protecting the nation’s food supply from deliberate or intentional acts of contamination or tampering. As defined by the US Food and Drug Administration: Food defense is the protection of food products from contamination or adulteration intended to cause public health harm or economic disruption.

Fraudulent and intentional substitution, dilution or addition to a product or raw material, or misrepresentation of the product or material, for the purpose of financial gain, by increasing the apparent value of the product or reducing the cost of its production.

Anyone who handles or prepares food.

Conditions and measures necessary for the production, processing, storage, and distribution of food designed to ensure a safe, sound, wholesome product fit for human consumption.

The finished article used to package food.

Usually based on the CODEX HACCP method but for quality instead of food safety, food quality plans include process controls at quality points in production to monitor product quality, identify deviations from control parameters and define corrections necessary to keep the process under control.

Food ingredients, additives, and processing aids used in the manufacture of a product.

Assurance that food will not cause harm to the consumer when it is prepared and/or eaten according to its intended use.

A biological, chemical, physical or radiological agent in food with the potential to cause an adverse health effect.

The maximum frequency and/or concentration of a hazard in a food at the time of consumption that provides or contributes to the appropriate level of protection (ALOP).

A plan prepared based on the CODEX HACCP method, including process controls at control points in production to monitor product safety, identify deviations from control parameters and define corrections necessary to keep the process under control.

A specific sector of the food or feed industry, or the provision of related food safety services.

Procedures adopted to assure the continued availability of raw materials and products.

An exhaustive description of the quantity and quality of raw materials to be used to process the products, as required in customer specifications.

A requirement of a Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme that must be established, maintained and monitored by the company as failure to meet the requirement could have serious repercussions on the legality or safety of the product supplied.

An organism whose genetic material has been altered so that its DNA contains genes not normally found there.

Managed by the Consumer Goods Forum, a project to harmonize and benchmark international food safety standards ( www.mygfsi.com ).

An organism, with the exception of human beings, in which the genetic material has been modified otherwise than natural multiplication or natural recombination.

Practices on farms that define best practices for production, incorporating integrated crop management, integrated pest management, and integrated agricultural hygienic practices.

Practices on aquaculture farms and wild catch fisheries that define best practices for production, incorporating integrated water quality, veterinary and growth practices, and handling and hygienic practices.

1. Conditions and measures necessary to ensure the safety and suitability of food at all stages of the food chain.

2. Usually related to a combination of operation, process, personnel and/or service control procedures intended to ensure that products and/or services consistently achieve appropriate levels of hygiene.

The combination of management and manufacturing practices, using best practice principles, designed to ensure food products are consistently produced to meet relevant legislative and customer specifications.

1. A system which identifies, evaluates, and controls hazards which are significant for food safety.

2. The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and refers to the HACCP guidelines developed and managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization’s CODEX Alimentarius Commission. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System and Guidelines for its Application – Annex to CAC/RCP 1 – 1969, Rev. 4-2003), – “A system, which identifies, evaluates and controls hazards which are significant for food safety”.

The implementation of prerequisite food hygiene programmes and the application of HACCP principles in the logical sequence of the twelve steps as described in the current edition of the CODEX Alimentarius Commission Guidelines: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System and Guidelines for its Application.

A document prepared in accordance with the CODEX principles of HACCP to ensure control of hazards that are significant for food safety in the segment of the food chain under consideration.

Training that meets the guidelines outlined in the Food and Agriculture Organization’s CODEX Alimentarius Commission. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System and Guidelines for its Application – Annex to CAC/RCP 1 – 1969, Rev. 4- 2003), – “A system, which identifies, evaluates and controls hazards which are significant for food safety.”

Biological, chemical, physical or radiological agent in food, or condition of, food with the potential to cause an adverse health effect.

The process of collecting and evaluating information on hazards and conditions leading to their presence to decide which are significant for food safety and therefore should be addressed in the HACCP plan.

A system that identifies, evaluates and controls hazards which are significant for food safety.

The qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation of the nature of the adverse health effects associated with biological, chemical and physical agents that may be present in food.

The identification of biological, chemical, and physical agents capable of causing adverse health effects and which may be present in a particular food or group of foods.

Solids, liquids or gasses that are radioactive, flammable, explosive, corrosive, oxidizing, asphyxiating, or pathogenic including but not restricted to detergents, sanitizers, pest control chemicals, lubricants, paints, processing aids, biochemical additives, which if used or handled incorrectly or in increased dosage may cause harm to the handler and/or consumer.

1. Food or food products with known attributes for microbiological growth, physical or chemical contamination, or which due to a process type may allow for the survival of pathogenic microbial flora or other contamination which, if not controlled, may contribute to the illness of the consumer.

2. A food that is deemed high risk by a customer, declared high risk by the relevant food regulation or has caused a major foodborne illness outbreak.

A process that requires a high standard of hygiene, where good hygienic practices relating to personnel, ingredients, equipment, packaging, and environment to prevent food contamination from pathogens.

An area designed to a high hygiene standard where good hygienic practices relating to personnel, ingredients, equipment, packaging, and environment are in place to prevent product contamination by pathogenic micro-organisms.

A product that requires chilled or frozen storage, is vulnerable to the growth of pathogens, has received a process to reduce the microbiological contamination to safe levels and is ready to eat or heat.

A physically segregated area, designed to a high standard of hygiene, where good hygienic practices relating to personnel, ingredients, equipment, packaging, and environment are in place to prevent product contamination by pathogenic micro-organisms.

A chilled ready-to-eat or ready-to-heat product or food where there is a high risk of growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.

Products which, from the microbiological point of view, are likely after a short period to constitute an immediate danger to human health.

A product that has a defined origin or purity characteristic which needs to be retained throughout the food chain (e.g. through traceability and protection from contamination) in order to assure its status.

A company facilitating the movement of products across an international border.

An event that has occurred that may result in the production or supply of unsafe, illegal or non- conforming products.

Industry norms, rules or protocols established by industry groups that provide practical, industry-specific good practice guidelines on meeting regulations while meeting industry needs.

An audit at a company/site which is not in possession of a valid certificate.

A designated station normally close to the process for the purpose of monitoring food safety and/or quality attributes and parameters.

The general process of audit, for all the activities of the company. Conducted by or on behalf of the company for internal purposes. Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.

Those staff whose activities have the potential to affect product safety, legality and/or quality.

In compliance with the national federal, state and local regulations applicable in the place of production and in the countries where the product(s) is/are intended to be sold.

An entity that has entered into a license agreement with the Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme authorizing it to manage the auditing and certification of the site’s food safety management system.

A defined quantity of a product produced and/or processed and/or packaged essentially under the same conditions may be described by other terms, e.g. batch.

Food containing high acid that is not known to support the growth of pathogens; food that is subject to a full cook prior to consumption.

An area where the processing or handling of foods presents the minimum risk of product contamination or growth of micro-organisms, or where the subsequent processing or preparation of the product will ensure product.

A set of interrelated or interacting elements of an organization to establish policies and objectives and processes to achieve those objectives. The system elements include the organization's structure, roles, and responsibilities, planning and operation.

A mandatory requirement of a Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme that must be established by an organization in order to receive certification.

A company that produces a product from raw materials and/or components and packs the product into retail units or supplies products in bulk.

The maximum concentration of a pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in or on food commodities and animal feeds. MRLs are based on GAP data and foods derived from commodities that comply with the respective MRLs are intended to be toxicologically acceptable.

Generally, set by local regulation or CODEX Alimentarius Commission, and applies to maximum allowable trace levels of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in agricultural produce, particularly produce entering the food chain.

Indicates a requirement or text which provides guidance but is not mandatory for compliance with the Food Safety Management Standard/Scheme.

The process to determine a value.

1. The act of conducting a planned sequence of observations or measurements of control parameters to assess whether a CCP is under control.

2. Determining the status of a system, a process or an activity. To determine the status, there may be a need to check, supervise or critically observe.

In the context of food safety, monitoring is conducting a planned sequence of observations or measurements to assess whether a process is operating as intended, monitoring is applied during an activity and provides information for action within a specified time frame.

The material safety data sheet provides relevant information to users to enable them to take the necessary food safety measures and/or the protection of health, safety, and the environment at the place of work.

Multi-site certification involves the designation and certification of a central site (into which a network of certified sub-sites all feed into. The central site and all sub-sites are normally all located in one country and operate under the same food safety legislation.

A multi-site programme is comprised of a central certified site under which activities are planned to manage and control the food safety management systems of a network of subsites under a legal or contractual link.

As defined by the Global Food Safety Initiative Requirements Document, a program of sub-site audits defined by the certification program owner but will be determined by the certification body based upon specified criteria.

Stands for “not applicable” and maybe reported during an audit by the auditor when an element does not apply at the time.

1. Non-fulfillment of a requirement.

2. The non-fulfillment of a specified product safety, legal or quality requirement or a specified system requirement

A minor non-conformity is an omission or deficiency in the site’s food safety management system that produces unsatisfactory conditions that if not addressed may lead to a risk to food safety.

A major non-conformity is an omission or deficiency in the site’s food safety management system producing unsatisfactory conditions that carry a food safety and/or quality risk.

A critical non-conformity is a breakdown in the site’s food safety management system that is judged likely to cause a significant public health risk and/or where the product is contaminated.

Result to be achieved, in the context of FSMS, objectives are set by the organization, consistent with the food safety policy, to achieve specific results.

A designated and enclosed area on a site in which chemical, microbiological and other product testing is conducted and if not controlled could lead to contamination and requires the use of good laboratory practices.

An area in which the product is open to the environment such as not fully enclosed in packaging or not enclosed within filling equipment, tanks or pipes.

A control measure or combination of control measures applied to prevent or reduce a significant food safety hazard to an acceptable level, and where action criterion and measurement or observation enable effective control of the process and/or product.

Group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities, and relationships to achieve its objectives.

An arrangement where an external organization performs part of an organization’s function or process (including services).

A process in which some foods are treated with mild heat, usually to less than 100 °C, to eliminate pathogens and extend shelf life. Pasteurization is applied to a product with the objective of minimizing possible health hazards arising from pathogenic microorganisms associated with the product which is consistent with minimal chemical, physical and organoleptic changes in the product. Examples of such foods include milk, cream, ice cream, eggs, fruit juices, fermented products, and soups.

A measurable result.

The effect in frequency and/or concentration of a hazard in food that must be achieved by the application of one or more control measures to provide or contribute to a PO or an FSO.

Summaries of quantified data that provide information on the level of compliance against agreed targets such as customer complaint levels, degree of product conformity or degree of audit compliance.

Any substance intended for preventing, destroying, attracting, repelling, or controlling any pest including unwanted species of plants or animals during the production, storage, transport, distribution and processing of food, agricultural commodities, or animal feeds or which may be administered to animals for the control of ectoparasites. The term normally excludes fertilizers, plant and animal nutrients, food additives, and animal drugs.

Any specified substance in food, agricultural commodities, or animal feed resulting from the use of a pesticide. The term includes any derivatives of a pesticide, such as conversion products, metabolites, reaction products, and impurities considered to be of toxicological significance.

Vermin, including birds, rodents, insects, or other unwanted species that can carry disease and pose a risk to packaging, feed or food.

Any substance intended for consumption by domestic animals and specialty pets. It includes dry and moist pet foods and treats, semi-raw, canned, chilled, or frozen products.

As defined by ISO 9001, a document(s) used to establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with customer requirements and the organization's policies.

Intentions and direction of an organization as formally expressed by its senior management.

Ensuring a product or material is of an acceptable standard prior to release for use.

Water that is safe to drink, free from pollutants and harmful organisms and conforming to legal requirements.

Products in their final packaging that is designed for sale to the consumer.

A food product which has undergone a washing, trimming or grading process and is pre-packed.

The basic environmental and operational conditions in a food business that are necessary for the production of safe food. These control generic hazards covering good manufacturing practice and good hygienic practice and are considered within the HACCP study.

Basic conditions and activities that are necessary within the organization and throughout the food chain to maintain food safety. The PRPs needed depend on the segment of the food chain in which the organization operates and the type of organization. Examples of equivalent terms are good agricultural practice (GAP), good veterinary practice (GVP), good manufacturing practice (GMP), good hygiene practice (GHP), good production practice (GPP), good distribution practice (GDP) and good trading practice (GTP).

Action to eliminate the fundamental, underlying cause (root cause) of a detected non-conformity and prevent a recurrence.

That packaging which constitutes the unit of sale, used and disposed of by the consumer (for example bottle, closure, and label).

A sole entity involved in the pre-farm gate production, field packing, storage and supply of food produced and/or harvested under their exclusive control.

Specified way to carry out an activity or process which is implemented and documented in the form of detailed instructions or process description or diagram such as a flow chart.

Set of interrelated or interacting activities which transforms inputs to outputs.

A food product which has undergone any of the following processes: aseptic filling, baking, battering, blending, bottling, breading, brewing, canning, coating, cooking, curing, cutting, dicing, distillation, drying, extrusion, fermentation, freeze-drying, freezing, frying, hot filling, irradiation, microfiltration, microwaving, milling, mixing, being packed in modified atmosphere, being packed in vacuum packing, packing, pasteurisation, pickling, roasting, slicing, smoking, steaming or sterilisation.

The processing of food through one or more steps in which the nature of the food is changed. Processing includes but is not limited to repacking, over bagging and re-labeling of food, slaughtering, dismembering, sorting, grading, cleaning, treating, drying, salting, smoking, cooking, canning, purifying and the pasteurization of food.

Any substance or material, not including apparatus or utensils, and not consumed as a food ingredient by itself, intentionally used in the processing of raw materials, foods or its ingredients, to fulfil a certain technological purpose during treatment or processing and which may result in the non-intentional but unavoidable presence of residues or derivatives in the final product.

Output that is a result of a process. A product can be a service.

The creation of products with new or different characteristics that offer new or additional benefits to the customer. Product development may involve modification of an existing product or its presentation, or formulation of an entirely new product.

Any measure aimed at achieving the return of a dangerous or unfit product that has already been supplied or made available to consumers by the producer or distributor.

Product requirements includes: product safety, product quality, product legality, process and specification.

Any measure aimed at preventing the distribution, display, and offer of a dangerous or unfit product to the customer but not from final consumers.

Plans used to establish the objectives and processes necessary to deliver results in accordance with customer requirements and the organization's policies such as an environmental monitoring programme.

Clothing designed to protect the product from potential contamination by the wearer.

The origin or the source of food or raw materials.

The absence of contaminants.

A measure of exceeding customer or corporate expectations and a state of being free from defects, deficiencies and significant variation.

A reconciliation of the amount of incoming raw material, including packaging, against the amount used in the resulting finished products, also taking into account waste and rework.

Check on amount of product in the pack. It can be related to weight, volume, number of pieces, size, etc.

The status given to any material or product set aside and isolated while awaiting confirmation of its suitability for its intended use or sale.

Any base material or semi-finished material including the packaging used by the organization for the manufacture of a product.

Re-certification by a certification body of a site’s food safety management system as a result of a re-certification audit.

An audit of the site’s SQF food safety or quality System within thirty (30) calendar days of the anniversary of certification.

Food designed by the manufacturer as requiring cooking or other processing effective to eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level micro-organisms of concern.

Food intended by the manufacturer for direct human consumption without the need for a full cook.

Food designed by the manufacturer as suitable for direct human consumption without the need for cooking, heating of the product is intended to make the product more palatable.

Laboratory accreditation schemes that have gained national and international acceptance, awarded by a competent body and widely recognized, for example, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

A product that is intact and requires no further processing or handling but is repackaged for distribution.

Agreed products or components for referral by the manufacturer when producing the product.

Need or expectation that is stated, generally implied or obligatory. A specified requirement is one that is stated, for example in documented information.

Includes the parent compounds and/or their metabolites in any edible portion of the animal product, and include residues of associated impurities of the veterinary drug concerned.

A trademark, logo, copyright or address of a retailer.

A business selling products to the public by retail.

Products bearing a retailer’s logo, copyright, address or ingredients used to manufacture within a retailer’s premises, the products are generally regarded as the responsibility of the retailer legally.

Representative products or components taken from a production run and held for future reference.

Person of the certification body in charge of assessing the audits reports before a certification decision is made.

Food, materials, and ingredients, including work in progress that has left the normal product flow and requires action to be taken on it before it is acceptable for release and is suitable for reuse within the process.

1. Effect of uncertainty.
An effect is a deviation from the expected – positive or negative.
Uncertainty is the state, even partial, of deficiency of information related to, understanding or knowledge of, an event, its consequence, or likelihood.
Food safety risk is a function of the probability of an adverse health effect and the severity of that effect, consequential to (a) hazard(s) in food, as specified in the Codex Procedural Manual

2. The likelihood of occurrence of harm from a hazard

A process consisting of three components: risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication.

1. The identification, evaluation, and estimation of the levels of risk involved in a process to determine an appropriate control process 2. A scientifically based process consisting of the following steps: (i) hazard identification, (ii) hazard characterization, (iii) exposure assessment, and (iv) risk characterization.

The qualitative and/or quantitative estimation, including attendant uncertainties, of the probability of occurrence and severity of known or potential adverse health effects in a given population based on hazard identification, hazard characterization, and exposure assessment.

The qualitative and/or quantitative estimation of risk resulting from risk characterization.

The process, distinct from risk assessment, of weighing policy alternatives, in consultation with all interested parties, considering risk assessment and other factors relevant for the health protection of consumers and for the promotion of fair trade practices, and, if needed, selecting appropriate prevention and control options.

The description of the food safety problem and its context.

The underlying cause of a problem, which, if adequately addressed, will prevent a recurrence of that problem.

A documented plan defining the number of samples to be selected and the acceptance or rejection criteria.

A warehouse/distribution site receiving products only from another site within the same company.

A tabulated statement giving details of actions and/or timings.

The food sector categories and those products to be covered by the certificate.

A period in which the major activity is conducted over, typically not more than five consecutive months in a calendar year; for example, harvesting and packing during the apple season.

Products that are processed at a specific time in the year, or processes which are used at a specific time in the year, for getting new/different products than those processed all year long.

Packaging that is used to collate and transport sales units to the retail environment.

Those with strategic/high-level operational responsibility for the company and the capability to authorize the financial or human resources necessary for the implementation of the Standard.

Individuals at the highest level on-site responsible for the business operation and implementation and improvement of the food safety and quality management system.

A requirement to comply with.

Compliance with the requirement is expected.

Food safety hazard, identified through the hazard assessment, which needs to be controlled by control measures.

Any food business involved in the production, manufacture, processing, transport, storage, distribution or sale of food, beverages, packaging, animal feed, or pet food, or providing support services to the food sector and run by a person, company, cooperative, partnership, joint venture, business or other organization who has, or agrees to have, a licensed certification body carry out audits and certification of its food safety management system.

An audit that reviews the site’s products and processes on-site to determine the effective implementation of the site’s documented food safety management system (includes certification audits).

An explicit or detailed description of a material, product or service.

A company or person requesting the product or service.

An individual designated by a site to oversee the development, implementation, review, and maintenance of that site’s own SQF System.

A point, procedure, operation or stage in the food chain, including raw materials, from primary production to final consumption.

The process applied to a product in final packaging (e.g. milk, fermented products, soups, beverages, etc.) with the objective of producing commercially sterile products, with a long shelf life under ambient temperature. The main concern is the inactivation of the most heat resistant pathogenic spore, namely Clostridium botulinum.

The entity that provides a product or service to the site.

A routine audit where that system has previously been certified or recertified and whose certification is current.

Where certification is revoked for a given period, pending remedial action on the part of the company.

Set of interrelated or interacting elements. A System is a planned, sustainable structured course of action. Depending on the complexity, documentation is recommended. System includes documentation, procedure description, control/monitoring, corrective action, site plan.

An individual who is able to demonstrate a high degree of expertise and technical competence in the food sector category, with sound knowledge and understanding of the HACCP method.

An identified risk that has the potential, if not controlled, to affect the product.

Person or group of people who directs and controls an organization at the highest level.
Top management has the power to delegate authority and provide resources within the organization.

Ability to trace and follow raw materials (including packaging), components and products, through all stages of receipt, production, processing, and distribution to the customer both forwards and backward.

The ability to follow the movement of a food through specified stage(s) of production, processing, and distribution.

Goods not manufactured or processed on-site but bought in and sold on.

A recognizable label, logo, or mark which identifies a raw material or finished product with a particular producer, manufacturer, or retailer.

An identified pattern of results.

An audit undertaken on a date unknown to the company in advance.

Immediate and/or planned activity to ensure the application of the most recent information.

Commodities or services, such as electricity or water.

Obtaining evidence that a control measure (or combination of control measures) will be capable of effectively controlling the significant food safety hazard. Validation is performed at the time a control measure combination is designed, or whenever changes are made to the implemented control measures.

Any device used for the conveyance of product that is capable of being moved upon highways, waterways or airways.

1. The application of methods, procedures, tests and other evaluations, in addition to monitoring, to determine compliance with the HACCP plan.

2. Confirmation through the provision of objective evidence that specified requirements have been fulfilled.

A schedule outlining the frequency and responsibility for carrying out the methods, procedures or tests additional to those used in monitoring, to determine that the HACCP study was completed correctly, that the food safety management system is compliant with the food safety plan and that it continues to be effective.

Any substance applied or administered to any food-producing animal, such as meat or milk-producing animals, poultry, fish or bees, whether used for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic purposes or for modification of physiological functions or behavior.

A statement issued by senior site management outlining the site's quality goals and objectives. It may be combined with, or separate from the site's food safety policy.

The microbiological, chemical, and/or physical treatment of water for use in processing or cleaning, to ensure its potability and suitability for use.

Partially manufactured products, intermediate products or materials waiting for the completion of the manufacturing process.

Authorized clothing designed to protect the product from potential contamination by the wearer.