Fact Sheet: Vacuum Sealing + Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)

KNOW THE FACTS!

The HACCP Plan

Facilities that vacuum seal Temperature Control Safety (TCS) foods MUST develop and maintain an HACCP plan.

HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points. HACCP is a management plan designed to control the risks to food throughout the food process.

An HACCP plan for vacuum sealing must include information such as:

• A complete description of the processing, packaging, and storage procedures;
• A description of how you will monitor and control the dangers to food;
• A list of acceptable products to be vacuum sealed;
• A list of equipment and supplies used;
• A description of the employee training program;
• A description of the procedure along with the frequency for cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces;
• A description of action to be taken if there is a deviation from your approved vacuum sealing process.

Hamilton County Public Health’s Level 2 Food Safety Course is more extensive and encompasses two full days of training. The course offers food protection manager certification covering, in detail, microbiological concepts, HACCP and employee health, among other topics. All course materials are covered by registration costs. Please contact the Division of Environmental Health at 513-946- 7800 if you have any questions regarding this opportunity.

What is it?

Vacuum sealing food is the most common form of reduced oxygen packaging (ROP). Vacuum sealing foods essentially removes all oxygen from the packaged food item. This is desirable for many operators because removing oxygen from an environment will usually extend the shelf life of foods.

What is the Hazard?

Clostridium Botulinum or Botulism toxin (poison) can be produced by bacteria under anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions. Botulism is a serious illness that can lead to dry mouth, double vision, nervous system damage, paralysis, and death. Because botulism only grows in no oxygen environments, vacuumed sealed food is a big concern. Listeria Monocytogenes is also a pathogen of concern if a facility vacuum seals deli meats and cheeses.

What Needs to be Done at the Facility Level?

• The facility must develop and maintain an HACCP plan regarding the ROP process.
• Employees must be properly trained on ROP procedures and safety requirements.
• All ROP foods must be kept refrigerated under 41°F or kept frozen at all times.
• Packaged ROP foods must be labeled “keep refrigerated” or “keep frozen.”
• Packaged ROP foods must have a use-by date on their label. This date can be a maximum of 14 days from the date of the vacuum sealing process.
• Foods must possess at least 2 of the following safety barriers before they can be vacuum sealed:
  • Refrigeration under 41°F
  • Water activity (Aw) below .91
  • pH of less than 4.6
  • High levels of other organisms that prohibit the growth of Clostridium Botulinum
  • Meat/poultry products cured at a U.S. Department of Agriculture or Ohio Depatrment of Agriculture regulated food plant
  • Frozen foods, provided that the product is maintained frozen before, during, and after the vacuum sealing. *Note: This is the ultimate safety barrier, and if foods are kept frozen before, during, and after, then this is the only safety barrier required.
• If fish products are going to be vacuum sealed, they must remain frozen before, during, and after packaging.
• You may repack commercially obtained products. These products must come from unopened packages, be vacuum sealed within 30 minutes of opening the package, and meet the safety barrier requirements.
• If not sold after 14 days, vacuum sealed foods must be discarded or destroyed.
• If food products are kept frozen before, during, and after the vacuum seal process, they must bear the label “Keep Frozen—use within 4 days of thawing.”
• Vacuum sealing must be performed in an area designated solely for this purpose.
• Vacuum sealing may only be done using commercial grade/NSF listed equipment.

Keep in Mind>>>

These requirements are in place to keep the food you offer to your customers safe for consumption.

Work with us

Developing an HACCP plan will involve a lot of work and organization. If you have any questions during the process, we are always available for guidance.

Food Safety Training

Hamilton County Public Health offers a bimonthly Level 1 Food Safety Class at our office. Classes occur on the first Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. and the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. The Level 1 Course is $20 per person (we can come to you for an additional charge, for a group of up to 25 people). We also offer a Level 2 ServSafe Course, which includes HACCP training for $150 per person. That course is held every other month and is a two-day course (16 hours). Call 946-7800 for more information or to register.

Questions

If you have further questions, please contact our Environmental Health Division at (513) 946-7800.

Download a printable version of this fact sheet here.

250 William Howard Taft Road 2nd Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45219 Phone 513.946.7800 Fax 513.946.7890 hamiltoncountyhealth.org