9/21/20
Grainger Editorial Staff
The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for many manufacturing companies. In short order, managers have had to reconfigure production lines, develop screening programs and take many other steps to help keep employees healthy and workplaces safe.
In the food and beverage industry, managers face an additional challenge—determining the impact that COVID-19 may have on food safety or HACCP plans.
The hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) management system is a tool that many companies in the food and beverage industry use to help maintain the safety of their products. All U.S. food manufacturers regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are required to have proactive rather than reactive food safety plans in place.
When companies with food safety or HACCP plans change the way they operate—as many companies have had to do in response to the COVID-19 pandemic—FDA regulations require that they take stock of how these changes may affect their plans. For example:
So how might this look in practice?
Here are some examples of operational changes that could require companies to reevaluate their HACCP and food safety plans:
These examples are drawn from a checklist put together by the FDA and OSHA in August 2020. This checklist offers more guidance on how COVID-19 may affect HACCP and food safety plans in areas including:
While the FDA/OSHA checklist provides guidance on how to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on food safety and HACCP plans, it also offers important resources to help companies in the food and beverage industry address one of the critical changes facing all companies today: maintaining employee health and safety. Topics covered include workspace configuration for social distancing, HVAC considerations, face coverings, disinfecting after COVID-19 exposure, employee testing and more.
Download the full FDA/OSHA checklist here: Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist for Human and Animal Food Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Q: Does COVID-19 create food safety challenges for manufacturers and processors in the food and beverage industry?
A: Food products and food packaging are believed to pose a very low risk of COVID-19 transmission, according to the CDC. Coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spread mainly through the respiratory tract, unlike viruses that cause foodborne illnesses, which spread mainly through the digestive tract. And according to the CDC, there's no evidence that COVID-19 has spread from people working in food production facilities to people handling or consuming their products. However, as manufacturers and suppliers change their operations to help maintain the health of their employees and the safety of their workplaces in response to COVID-19, these changes may introduce new food safety hazards, requiring companies to re-evaluate and possible redesign their food safety and HACCP plans.
Q: What steps can consumers take when handling groceries and packaged food to help prevent the spread of COVID-19?
A: The CDC recommends that people take everyday actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, even though the risk of contracting the illness by eating or handling food or food packaging is believed to be low. Most importantly, people should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water after shopping or handling food packages—and before preparing or eating food. The CDC recommends that consumers do NOT use bleach, ammonia or other hard-surface disinfectants on food packaged in plastic wrap or cardboard.
The information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This article is not a substitute for review of current applicable government regulations, industry standards, or other standards specific to your business and/or activities and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.
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