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HACCP-certified.  We often see this mark in food labels of processed food.  Me, I spotted the HACCP mark twice in our groceries today– in the plastic package of Gardenia Bread and the vacuum plastic pack of Purefoods TJ Hotdogs for my Little Boy. But what does it mean for us Mommy consumers?

HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), according to the Wikipedia, is a systematic preventive approach to food safety and pharmaceutical safety that addresses physical, chemical, and biological hazards as a means of prevention rather than finished product inspection. HACCP is used in the food industry to identify potential food safety hazards, so that key actions, known as Critical Control Points (CCP’s) can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of the hazards being realized.

Short to say, when we see the HACCP-certified mark, it means the food or pharmaceutical product’s quality and safety is assured. 

In the Philippines, HACCP can only be applied in food processing plants where Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is already in place. GMP is a system which checks the safety and suitability of food facilities, practices, and controls in food manufacturing. It also includes measures that guarantee that the food has been processed under sanitary conditions.

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry through its Bureau of Export Trade Promotion along with other members agencies grants HACCP certification/accreditation to qualified domestic food manufacturers.  Local food companies who often apply for HACCP certification are those that export their products in export markets because it is a required food standard.